Linocutting - The tools and materials I use
You may well be curious about what materials I use when linocutting. So, in this art blog I briefly cover the main materials and tools that I use for all of my linocuts and that are important to the printmaking process. For top quality linocut artwork, I highly recommend investing in some of the things described below!
Firstly, every relief printmaking artist requires quality linocut tools. Personally, I use Pfeil linocut set C tools and I use a set of 6, which definitely suffices. Pfiel are a Swiss company and their products are beautifully crafted and made to the highest quality. I held off from buying them for years, because they are a little pricey. But now I use the Pfiel brand, I can say, without doubt, they are an invaluable investment. With these linocut tools I can produce very highly detailed work, due to the surgical sharpness of them. But just remember, if you use them, to watch your fingers! I purchased my Pfiel tools here.
Secondly, the printmaking ink I use is Cranfield Safe Wash relief ink. This is a water soluble oil-based ink. I generally only use black ink for my linocuts, as I love the graphic boldness of a black and white image. I think a linocut can often hold its own without colour, although I’m certainly not against using colour from time to time! I use vegetable oil and old cut up clothing rags to clean the ink from my working surface and matrix. Although soap and water can also do the job. To find out more about Cranfield printmaking inks visit their website.
Another tool I use is a wooden spoon, to burnish the prints, as my work to date is all hand printed. One can also use a hand baren, which covers a wider surface area than a spoon. Popular choices are both bamboo and glass barens. Handprinted is worth checking out for these products!
Next, you may wonder what paper and linoleum I recommend and where I source it. Ok, so this can depend on where I am currently living. I’m originally from the UK and when I lived there I swore by London-based company John Purcell Paper. This company is very reliable and professional. Plus, they have an amazing range of printmaking paper. I particularly like Fabriano and Banks Cream for relief printing. I tend to go for GSM range between 245 and 300.
These days I live in Vietnam and to cut down on shipping fees, I often order my printmaking paper from Taipoz in Ho Chi Minh City. I can recommend Arnhem 1618 paper as a good choice and for beautiful results.
As far as linoleum goes, well I like old-school battleship linoleum. This is the hessian-backed lino often associated with flooring in, well, old schools (chuckle..) and hospitals. I like to buy old rolls of the stuff from flooring warehouses at wholesale price. Seemingly, less and less of this lino is around these days though. Nonetheless, it can be good fun to search for!
Finally, I just want to say the above products, I have mentioned are my own personal preferences, but I do consistently achieve results of the highest quality, thanks, in part, to the aforementioned things. You can see my ever-growing collection of limited edition linocuts, available to buy here.
