The process of each print

Artists often draw from the beauty of the natural world to create works that resonate with them and I am no different. I can't create a design unless I am first inspired by something. And then I go on a bit of a journey of thinking, sketching, cutting and sticking until I get to the final design, it can take quite a while!! Sometimes up to a year or more. I know.... ridiculous!

The journey begins...

With an extremely rough sketch! Literally ,just a series of circles or shapes laid out on a piece of paper with notes to show what I would like and where. I often make a list of things I would like to be featured on the print at this stage too.

Next....

I will then usually sketch the elements of the design separately on different pieces of paper quite often, sometimes in different sketch books even! Quite chaotic if I am honest. For example, if I wanted to include a barn owl I would have an idea in my head of what position I want the bird to be in on the design, and where I would like it to be, and I will draw this out many times until I am happy with it.

Cutting and sticking

I then get the scissors and glue out Blue Peter style! I will cut out each main element of the design and lay it out on a bigger piece of paper until I am happy with the composition.

Filling in the gaps

I will then fill in the gaps in-between those main design elements, so perhaps I will draw some background 'noise' such as trees, grasses, rocks, sky. I like swirly flowing designs, so I will fill in those gaps.

Waiting

I will then go away and not look at it for a day, or two, or maybe a week or two! I will come back to it and see if I still like the final design. I might do some more cutting and sticking, moving around of elements. There may be something else I have decided to add to the design, so I will do that. I am left basically with a messy collage.

Then there is light!

I will use a light box to draw that design again on a clean piece of paper. It's usually at this point I realise I have drawn the image the wrong way round! With lino printing you must remember that the image is reversed. You need to ensure when you transfer your image onto the lino for cutting that its the opposite way to how you want the finished design. Oh this has caused many a headache!

Transfer the design to the block

I do this usually using carbon paper, I will draw over the design with a piece of carbon paper between y sketch and the lino. I am left with the design. I will then draw over this with a permanent marker to make the lines very clear. Then I will smear some ink over the whole thing. This just makes it easier when cutting to see the difference between light areas and dark areas.

The light and dark bits!

It makes life much easier for me to make it clear on the block before I start carving, which bits are going to be inked and which bits I need to carve out. The bits I carve out will be white and not inked. the bits I leave will be inked.

Testing testing

I use beautiful Japanese papers for my prints (which can be fairly pricey!). So I will do a test print of the block with some cheaper paper to see if I am happy with the final result. I have been known to start from scratch at this stage! But this just shows me if I need to do any tweaks anywhere.

I have learnt over the years it is important to not strive for perfection with lino printing, those imperfections and marks or what makes the work original and mine, I

leave them now :-)