An Introduction to Reduction Lino Printing

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I've always fancied having a go at lino cutting, so when googling about on the computer one evening a few months ago, I came across this course at Birmingham Printmakers (@BhamPrintmakers on twitter). As Mum is an arty soul herself, I asked if she would like to come too as a birthday treat, and the rest as they say....

It was a fabulous day - our course tutors were Jacqui Dodds (@JacquiDoddsArt on twitter) and Christine Bradshaw (www.christine-bradshaw.com). We were very warmly welcomed and shown where to make tea - an essential part of being creative! The day seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and I was totally shattered at the end of it from having to concentrate so much.

We learnt how to use the cutters safely (most of the time, out of the five of us on the course only mum and I left unscathed from the cutting tools!), how to make a register and also how to make our reduction lino print.

We used Japenese vinyl for our print, am I still yet to be brave enough to move into the world of proper lino!

Using the big printing press was great too - I wish I had taken a picture of it as well.

Christine and Jacqui were patient, helpful and great teachers, managing to block out most of our ongoing witterings as we talked aloud through our thought processes.... and Christine had made some great cake too - another essential element of the creative process! 

I've made a slideshow of images from the day, showing the process from the original transfer of image to the vinyl, through to the final three colour print.

I loved it so much, I came home and ordered some printing equipment!! 

​Here's to the rest of the journey.... :-)

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