10 Tips To Help You Create The Perfect Lino Print
In my time teaching lino printing, I've seen that some students get frustrated. They come along with detailed designs in mind, wanting to make them come alive through lino printing. It's essential to let them know that getting good at anything - like a new language, musical instrument, or artistic technique - takes time and practice.
However, there are ways to make learning easier and help you create a beautiful lino print that you'll love showing off on your walls. In fact here are 10 tips to help you do just that …
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What will you learn on one of my lino printing courses?
Ever wanted to give Lino Printing a go but not quite sure if it’s right for you? I get that. You don’t know me so why would you spend your money on one of my courses or 1 day workshops?
Well carry on reading and I will tell you a little bit about my experience and what to expect when you come to one of my classes and hopefully you will want to come and join one of my classes and learn the wonderful art that is lino printing
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Green and Red Reduction Lino Print - Pressing Matters Magazine Issue 24 Print Challenge
Pressing Matters is a Magazine created by printmakers for printmakers and it is released quarterly in January, April, July and October. For each issue they ask their Instagram followers to produce a piece of print with a limited colour palette. For issue 24 the colours were Green and Red and I rose to the challenge. I felt the colours fitted really well with my Botanical Lino Prints and I’m delighted to be selected for their list of favourite entries to appear in the magazines showcase gallery
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5 Botanical Inspired Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers
Feeling a bit stuck in what to buy a plant lover for that special occasion or just a little treat? Maybe, like me, they have a ton of plants all ready. Though if also like me you can never have too many. Any way why not give them something a little bit different this year and buy them something a little bit more arty and unique?
Carry on reading as I give you 5 Botanical Inspired Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers for all occasions
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The Creation of my Bird of Paradise Plant Reduction Lino Print
A Strelitzia, or as it’s more commonly known as a Bird of Paradise Plant, a wonderfully bright and joyful flowering plant that are native to South Africa. Often called a crane flower by many South Africans, the "bird of paradise" name is also commonly used because of the flower's resemblance to a bird in flight
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Lino Printing Tips: 3 ways to line up your lino prints when printing
You have spend hours and hours carving out your lino print designs, you have your printing paper and have mixed your inks and now you’re ready to print.
But how do you make sure your lino print appears in the same place each time? This is where choosing the right registration method to suit your project comes in handy. So let me show you 3 really simple and cost effective ways to register your prints
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My Top 5 Moments of 2022
I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to the new year and seeing what it may bring
It's not been the easiest year for many and for my business it’s been a bit up and down, but I thought I would share with you all 5 of my top moments of 2022
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What do You Mean by Limited Edition Lino Prints?
When buying one of my original Lino prints you may be wondering what I mean by limited edition and what the numbers at the bottom mean
So first of all, an original print are printmaking techniques such as lino and woodcut prints, screen prints, etchings and lithographs. Many hours can be spent on designing, creating and then printing them
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Reduction Lino Print: How I made my Spotty Begonia Lino Print
Quite often I get people wondering how my Botanical Lino Prints are created, so let me show you layer by layer how I made my Spotty Begonia Lino Print
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Online Lino Printing Tutorials – My Top 5 ranking YouTube Videos
Question? Who of you have used YouTube to learn something new? I know I have and let’s face it there are lots to learn on there and it can be a great way of learning in your own time. Especially if you’re not able to commit to a real-life weekly class
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How Do You Clean and Care for Your Botanical Metal Sculpture?
When you buy one of my Botanical Metal sculptures, they have been treated with a Renaissance Wax to help protect them from the elements. However, with time the metal can darken and change colour and you may want to let it do its thing or give it a clean
I have 3 types of sculpture, metal only, half metal half patina, and full patina, and depending on which one you have you will need to care for it in a different way so before you dig out your Brasso or Metal Cleaners carry on reading to find out how to clean and care for your botanical metal sculpture without the use of chemicals
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Printmaking Tutorials: 4 Ways to Bring Tone and Texture to Your Lino Prints
What do you think of when you think of Lino Prints? You're probably thinking that they are rather flat looking in appearance and that's just what a Lino Print is and create your designs with this in mind
But what if I told you that it doesn’t have to be that way and in fact you can give the impression of light and dark, shade and textures. Are you thinking “No Way!”?
Well, I say “Yes Way!”
So let me show you 4 really easy methods that will give you more tone and texture to your Lino prints
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Lino Printing Tutorials: 3 More Ways to Line Up Your Lino Prints When Printing
Ever wondered how printmakers always have their prints perfectly lined up on the paper? Well judging by the reaction of my last blog post on the subject and the accompanying video loads of others were wondering too
Who would have thought Lino registration techniques would be so popular?
So, following on from my original Lino Printing Tips: 3 Ways to Line Up Your Lino Prints When Printing blog post and Lino Printing Tutorial Video let me show you another 3 ways using these simple and cost-effective techniques
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Lino Printing Classes - How Rosie Learned to Lino Print Like a Pro
From time to time, I will get a student who from the beginning I can tell they have a natural ability and flare with the Lino printing medium. One such student was Rosie from The Wild Print Studio. Straight away she produced lovely work and has gone on to create and sell her stunning ocean inspired lino prints
So, I caught up with Rosie and asked her a few questions
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31 Ways to boost your creativity - mark making exercises
During the month of October, I took part in an Instagram challenge where everyday we were given a prompt for a mark making exercise. The idea of the challenge being to have fun, to let your inner child out and play and to hopefully boost those creative juices in your drawing. It was also very different from what I do in my day to day job of creating Botanical Lino Prints and Metal Sculptures but it was nice to try something else for a little while
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5 Reasons Why Buying my Botanical Lino Prints is a Great Idea
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘print’?
You’re probably thinking of the many wall decorations and prints that you can buy in most shops and online and you probably won’t associate it with an original piece of art. You’re not alone because live in a world where so much is mass produced so It’s not surprising people think this. So whether you’re looking to buy some art for your home or as a gift, carry on reading to find out why I think buying original lino prints is a brilliant idea
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A glimpse into my studio space
Are you like me and are a little bit nosy? and want to have a nose at someone’s studio space? Have you ever wondered what a printmaker gets up to in their studio? Obviously I cannot speak for all printmakers and artists but I can let you in on one of my recent printing days and give you a little insight into my creative space
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Metal Creations: How I create the blue colours on my botanical metal sculptures?
I’ve been making my botanical metal sculptures for a while now and more recently I wanted to introduce some colour. After being about the technique called Patina I was interested in exploring this method. After a little bit of research I found out about a bit more. And after a failed attempt with salt and vinegar crisps (don’t ask) and a bit more experimenting, my homemade solution with table salt, water/white vinegar and ammonia began. Read on to find out how I make my botanical metal sculptures blue
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Metal Creations: How do I create the green colour on my botanical metal sculptures?
Several years ago I attended a few silversmithing courses at Bristol Folk House and after making a shed load of silver rings it was suggested by the tutor that I should have a go at making some little sculptures instead and use my botanical lino prints as inspiration
So armed with my learnt silversmithing techniques I began to make a series of sculptures of Money Trees and Cacti. I’ve been making these for a few years now and more recently I wanted to introduce some colour to them
I was told about a technique called Patina and after a little bit of research I found out about a bit more and my homemade kitchen experiments with ammonia and tobacco began.
Read on to find out what the hell Patina is and how I make my botanical sculptures green
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Lino Printing: How do I make my black and white botanical lino prints?
Usually when I create my botanical lino prints I will use the reduction method which is a way of creating multiple layers and colours using just one piece of lino. However over the past few years I have began to go back to doing black and white lino prints as well.
Black and white lino prints can be more dramatic and bold in appearance and have a modern graphic edge to them and make a lovely addition to any contemporary setting. So how do I make them?
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