A little curiosity combined with a couple of new year intentions have led me to my first Linocut Printmaking course in January 2022. I went in with a beginner’s mindset and came out falling in love with this artistic process through a relaxed environment and fun experimental sessions led by Artist / Art Lecturer, Yoko Omomi. Followed by a second course in May 2022… and then I was hooked that in January 2023, I even enrolled into another course with Yoko at MVHS and had a wonderful hands-on printmaking experience learning to print with more colours.

MONOTYPE

We were first introduced to Monotype Printing (a technique used to make a unique print by applying printing ink or oil paint to a flat sheet of glass or a plate of smooth metal or plastic). We explored ways of transferring the ink from the glass plate to paper using two different methods, either with adding ink directly onto the plate (drawing or mark-making usually with a brush) or removing the ink from the plate using various everyday items available around us – a back of a pen, a cut out image/shape, bubble wraps, a ruler or bottle caps to name a few. The image is then transferred to paper either by rubbing manually or by using a press.

Yoko also encouraged us to experiment with different types of papers, ink colours and even water (brush splatters directed onto the plate covered with ink). I totally love the random effects we got out of these experiments but those I tried on tissue paper (image 1 and 5 above, from L-R and T-B ) has my heart singing! Monotype printing is sooooo unpredictable and that is what makes it super special – UNIQUE and ONE OF A KIND… Just look at all those patterns and textures!

In one of our sessions, we got to go outside to collect part of nature we would like to print with, such as leaves or flowers (I took some tiny twigs along too because I was curious if they would make it through the press – well, they did! Errr… for future prints though, it’s advisable not to choose any materials that are too thick, got that? Cool). We experimented making monotype prints using nature items and followed by a series of prints created by printing multiple times over with the same plate in a variety of ways (image above).

LINOCUT

The second Printmaking technique Yoko brought us through was Linocut Printing (a type of relief printmaking technique where an image is cut or carved out from a sheet of linoleum. Linoleum surface is softer and easier to carve compared to wood. The carved out image is then inked and printing is done on a paper by rubbing manually with a spoon, a baren / similar tool or by using a printing press). There were also different levels of hardness of a linoleum plate that we got to experiment with. I started off with the dark brown plate – the hardest surface and then followed with a grey plate – less hard but also not too soft. Alternative to traditional linoleum plates, Yoko let us experiment with “SoftCut” too. It is a manmade rubber-like material made from plastic and in my opinion is softer and easier to carve as a beginner. For a while there, I preferred the SoftCut plates as compared to traditional linoleum plates but as time passes by, my first choice of surface would now be the grey linoleum (not too hard and not too soft plus I find it better for capturing finer details). I guess the best way to find your preference is to spend some time exploring them to get the feels of each surfaces.

Carving tools are the next topic of interest. I borrowed a set from Yoko during my very first attempt. They were a standard Japanese set with straight shaped holders as appose to European sets, which are usually designed with mushroom shaped holders to fit into the palm of our hands. Of course, I then headed to the nearest art supply shop and got me a set of my own – a relatively cheaper set that was available from the brand “Abig”. They worked wonders even though the gouges were not as sharp as the ones I used in class. They became my best buds for the next two months or so, accompanying me through the nights while I tested new ideas on the linoleums until I was gifted a new set from “Flexcut” for my birthday! Big smiles… and… tiny cuts afters, lol – yes, please do mind your fingers while carving with these, they are super sharp! But other than the sharpness of the gouges and a more comfy holder that fitted my palms better, I personally feel that it doesn’t really matter which set of carving tools you use as long as they can cut well enough without you having to put too much pressure that could strain your wrists etc in the long run. And another point to remember is that only the “U” and “V” gouges in different sizes are mostly needed, the others not so much or almost never – at least not for me so far.

Loved the approach Yoko had with us in the classroom. Throughout the course, we went step by step from learning to print background colours both manually with a baren and also with a press, played with different colours and colour mixes, used various materials and techniques including “Chine Collé”. I fell in love with ’em all!

WOODCUT

Last but not least, Yoko also brought us through Woodcut Printing technique (a technique that involves printing an image from a carved plank of wood. The image is cut into the wood using the carving tools where the areas left and not carved out of the wood are inked and printed). I have to be honest though, my mind and heart were still thrilled with the first two techniques that I did not explore much with this one. Perhaps, the hard surface had a hand in deterring my motivation too. I wanted to create more in shorter time – patience is sometimes not my best trait I guess, hah!

There are of course a lot we can create with woodcut printing, even the piece of plank itself without any carvings has its own story to tell (image 2 above, from L-R) when inked and printed. Looking into future projects, I’d probably go deeper into woodcut printing using smaller pieces of wood and create a series of mini prints out of them. An idea to jot down in my journal for sure!

EXPLORE AND LEARN

Personally, I believe nothing can beat a one-on-one and hands-on learning environment where expert tips and tricks are being shared and passed down from experienced teachers as well as the exchanging of ideas from colleagues in the classroom but there are always alternatives for when time and resources are limited. Online courses via Skillshare, YouTube tutorials and of course BOOKS – are some of my go-to methods for alternative learning and acquiring skills. As a full-time mama of two, these give me the freedom to learn at my own time (ehem, I mean when the kids’ schedule are free, iykyk haha) in the comfort of my own home or place of learning.

Above images are some of the books I have referred to on the topic of printmaking and without a doubt, I’d recommend them to YOU as well! There are so many more out there though, you just have to keep an open mind to explore and you may come across one or two that will spark the magic in you. Drop me a message when you find THE ONE(s) – I’ll be happy if you’d share that magic with me too!

NGRAPHIE BY NAZKHALID – PRINTMAKING

Simply REACH OUT here if you have any inquiries or if you have something on your mind about commissioned prints OR a collaboration. I am always open to hearing from you! Alternatively, you will also find my prints in my ETSY Shop soon.

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“…Online courses via Skillshare, YouTube tutorials and of course BOOKS – are some of my go-to methods for alternative learning and acquiring skills…”