What is linoprinting?

Linoprint, which is also referred to as lino print, lino printing or linoleum art, is a block printing technique where a design is carved into a linoleum, rubber or vinyl surface that can then be printed from. 

Ok.. what does block printing mean?

Think of it like a giant stamp. The 'block' of blockprinting is whatever is being carved into: the linoleum, rubber, even wood. Once the block is carved, ink is rolled onto it, and then the block is pressed against a sheet of paper to print the design.

What are you carving?

Everything that isn't going to be printed is carved away from the block using a variety of small sharp tools. Whatever's left on the block is what will be printed. The interesting part of it, though, is that the design on the block is the reverse of what is printed. So for example, if the print is a person looking left on the paper, they'll be looking to the right on the block.

So is every print the same?

Nope! That's part of the beauty of linoprinting. Because of the texture of the paper, various pressure when printing the art, and even how the ink sits on the block, every single piece is going to be unique.

Can we see you do it?

Abso-freakin-lutely. Check out the video below to see how the In Amber: Dragonfly wing came to life! I also post all kinds of carving and printing videos all over TikTok and Instagram.