Info about Linocut:

Linocut is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum is used for the relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, with the raised areas representing a reversal of the parts to show printed. The cut areas can then be pulled from the backing. The linoleum sheet is inked with a brayer, and then impressed onto paper. The actual printing can be done by hand or with a press.

As the material being carved has no particular direction to its grain and does not tend to split, it is easier to obtain certain artistic effects than with most woods, although the resultant prints lack the wood character of wood block printing. Linoleum is also much easier to cut than wood, which must be carved away, but the pressure of the printing process degrades the plate faster. It is also difficult to create larger works due to the material's fragility.

Linocut is widely used at art schools to introduce beginners to the art of printing; similarly, non-professional artists tend to use linocut rather than woodcut. But it was and is also widely used by professional artists, for similar reasons. [More info]


[Edvard Munch's 1893 artwork titled The Scream]

The Good/Bad News:

I FINALLY DID MY LINOCUT PIECE!! It took me 5 hours of cutting and graving with the knifes and the help of Samia, Reda, Ta'efi, Hamzeh and Mrs. Nelly, 1 injury thou.. one of the knifes slipped from my right hand to my left hand's elbow. But It's alright, some blood drifted :P which made me feel so proud to finish.

The artwork was basically the The Scr-Emo by Jesse Mack (which is a punky new version of Edvard Munch's 1893 artwork titled The Scream), which was also printed on hoodies by Threadless. The instructor was really happy with my 3 Black/Grey results and the 2 colored ones as well.

I took some photos of some of the draft tests.. and the sheet before printing..




[click image for larger]

What do you think of it? I'm expecting A+ (according to my teacher's first impressions)