Out Of Order Linoprint

For my ‘Out Of Order’ entry I decided to go back into print and try something a bit different from the other work I had been doing for this module so far. The image was a development of an image I completed for my COP module and this was shape based rather than line based so it would translate well into print. 

I developed the image, adding extra details, and then separated the layers using tracing paper and a light box. I scanned these and finalised my positives on Photoshop. I had wanted to do a screen print but I left things a bit too late and there were no screens available that were big enough and seeing as my screen print skills aren’t the best anyway, I didn’t want to make this even more last minute in case it all went wrong. 

Instead of abandoning the work I had done so far I thought about how I could use these shapes with linocut. I had already attempted to make some mothers day cards in a similar way but had drastically failed and ended up a total mess. The lines you get from lino printing built up layer after layer and made the images look messy. I learned from my mistakes and decided to cut out each shape individually so that no lines could transfer from the cut-away areas. I cut out 35 pieces of lino in total. 

My first attempt at printing these went okay (printing in blue). The process took a long time as there were so many individual pieces to line up. There was still some excess ink transferring outside the shapes I wanted so I cut more lino away and tried again. 

This was much more successful, it looked much neater and actually started to resemble a screen print a little bit. I like how the shapes overlap a little bit to create new shades of red. Using back for the last layer (the line) made a stronger contrast than just using a darker shade of the colour. I feel like this also ties this piece in with the rest of the work I usually create which is line based. After all, this process is a little outside of what I normally do. 

I don’t think this is a process I will continue with, it’s just quite far from what I am developing my practice to be and the outcome didn’t inspire me enough to want to do it more. It has definitely clarified a few things for me and although I may return to lino in the future, at the moment this is not what my practice is about.