Block Printing
Linocut Printing
Making Art with Kids: Block Printing Lesson. November 20, 2015. https://artclasscurator.com/making-art-with-kids-block-printing/
Supplies
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My favorite way of block printing is to use easy-cut rubber blocks that more closely mimic the process of using linoleum and wood.
First, draw a rough draft on a piece of paper. sketch the design onto the print block. Figure out what will be black and what will be white. Shade in the dark areas so that you wilAlso, be sure to do all text and numbers backward as the resulting print is a mirror image.
You can use transfer paper to transfer a drawing but it is easier just to draw right on the block. Make sure the lines are thick on your block before you start so you can clearly see your design. Tracing your design in a pen will help you when you start cutting.
Next, use a linoleum cutter to carve out all of the areas of the design that you want to be white. This tool usually comes with several tips for different thicknesses of lines. If you have a true linoleum block, this will take some muscle. If you have an easy-cut rubber block, it will cut smoothly and quickly, like butter.
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Safety Tip: Be sure to push away from your hands and your body when using this tool! I have a nice v-shaped scar on my pointer finger of my left hand from doing this on real linoleum on my bed when I was in college. It wasn’t a smart decision.
Next, spread some ink on an inking plate, a piece of glass, plexiglass, or anything non-porous and flat. Water-based printing ink is best. Use a soft roller (or “brayer”) to roll the ink flat. Go in both directions to spread the ink evenly on the roller. Roll the ink onto the print block and then put the paper on top of the block. Use the back of a spoon or a second roller to press the paper onto the block (this is called “burnishing”). Here is a great video that covers the basics of how to ink and print.
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