The linocut ‘Blue Mountains Wildflowers’ is really a step back in time for me on many levels from the design inspirations to my memories of this region. As I’ve spoken about before I love the Blue Mountains region west of … Continue reading Blue Mountains Wildflowers Fine Art Linocut – A Step back in Time
SEASIDE WILDFLOWERS – CREATING A FINE ART LINOCUT The centrepiece artwork for an exhibition at the Northern Rivers Art Gallery was a new linocut – Seaside Wildflowers. Back in February I was approached by the Northern Rivers Art Gallery Director Ingrid Hedgcock, to exhibit alongside an exhibition of the Master Woods Craftsman & his students. For me it came at a time when recently becoming an ’empty nester’ & my shoulder was looking like it was going to recover after surgery & allow me to work – carve – again. It was also when I really need to get my … Continue reading Seaside Wildflowers – The Development of a new Fine Art Linocut
– Blue Mountains Wildflowers – The Development of a new Fine Art Linocut Continue reading Blue Mountains Wildflowers – Fine Art Linocut Tutorial Video
– Seaside Wildflowers – The Development of a new Fine Art Linocut Continue reading Seaside Wildflowers – Fine Art Linocut Tutorial Video
These are the 4 main sizes of blades I use to carve my linoblocks – they are known as ‘V’ gauges and are blades designed to push away from you whilst you carve. There are other blades known as ‘pull’ blades designed to pull towards you as you carve – I have never used these.
The blades above fit into a handle when using them to carve lino.
Now at this point I need to stress that these particular carving tools are over 25 years old – they are certainly old and faithful and I guard them jealously. Not because they were hugely expensive but because out of long years of use they are comfortable. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the comfortable. I have noted that a newer set of Speedball blades and handles are not the same as these – they are a different shape of handle and gauges and have less weight in the handle.
I have not the access to shops that sell the more expensive carving tools nor the finances at this point and I would need to feel them before I bought them but I also know that into the future I will need towards replacing these.
The end section on the right side of the above image below comes off and the spare blades can bet stored there but this is not something I do. I do also though use some padding I tape onto the end for the finer blade due to the constant pressure into the palm of my hand whilst carving. The end of the handle fits neatly and comfortably into the centre of my hand.
Essentially you need to find the blades and handles that best feel comfortable to you. As an aside I do not like the long straight wooden handled cheaper lino carving tools that are most used in schools. They contain only larger sized blades and foe me I find them cumbersome to use as I have a small hand and do a lot of fine carving.
Continue reading “Lino carving methods – carving tools and blades”
Essentially the lino blades that you use regardless of brand etc are a metal blade or knife designed as gouges. Continual use of the carving linoblocks will make them blunt and like any knife they need to be maintained and … Continue reading Keepin’ them sharp – Linocut blades
WARNING!! Lino cutting tools are called ‘gouges’ for a reason! Their purpose is to gouge or carve the surface of the lino to create the design and as such they are sharp and can easily cause unwary users to end … Continue reading Carving Linoblocks – Carving Boards – Safety tips
On the left is a section of the linoblock carving of a Tawny Frogmouth linocut design – ‘Sleepy Tawny’. It is the same size and companion image for ‘Tawny Stare’. The image on the right is the design template I … Continue reading Warning!! Remember to always carve your design in reverse!!
The image on the right shows how I transfer my designs I have worked out on paper onto the linoblock. After I have finished developing the design and inked it in as a black and white design I then used … Continue reading Transferring the design from paper to lino
I know this seems an odd combination but on really cold days or average days where it is too hot to warm the room but not hot enough to help make the lino soft and pliable then I use the … Continue reading Linocut carving and 1970′s food warmers…
Wildflowerings Linocut & Art Tutorials 