Linocut

printmaking · art technique · carving · stamps

Carving the design. You use sharp knives, V-shaped chisels, or gouges to carefully cut away parts of the linoleum surface. The parts you don't carve stay raised up and become the parts that get inked.

Ink and printing. You roll ink across the raised linoleum surface, then press it onto paper or fabric to create your print. The inked raised areas leave an impression, creating a copy of your carved design.

Reversed image. Because you're carving away the background, your final print comes out backwards from how it looks on the block. This takes a little thinking when you're carving your design.

Flexible process. You can print by hand, pressing the inked block directly onto paper, or use a printing press to make perfectly even copies. One carved block can make dozens or even hundreds of prints.

Reusable block. Unlike some art techniques, a single linoleum block can be printed again and again, making it great for creating multiple copies of the same design.