11 Low Kai En

Step 1: Tracing out the overall shape of the photo

Step 2: Darken the lines so that it is easier to transfer later on.

Colour and trace areas that you are keeping black to make sure that your do not mix up the different areas to cut later on. 

Step 3: Colour a photo with your self portrait with the colours that you are going to use. This coloured photo would be the blueprint that you use for reference when you cut your lino 

Step 4: Transfer the photo to the lino, use black marker to colour in the black areas, cut out the white parts.

Cutting deep enough in the eyes area was difficult for me as there was only such a small space that I could cut, being a little off would make my lino not as good. So I tried my best to be very careful when cutting.

Step 5: Print your first cut. Print at least 7 to ensure that you will have enough to last through to the last step. (I printed around 8 copies)

It was difficult for me to print the colour evenly. There were alot of white patches. I also did not remember to wipe off excess paint for some of the prints which negetively affected the next few steps.

Step 6: Cut the peach coloured areas out, do test prints to ensure that you have cut your lino cleanly.

Step 7: After completing test prints, use your actual prints and print the second colour in this case purple. I printed 5 purple  + peach self portraits. 

It was difficult to ensure that the colour was solid, so i printed it a few more times. 

Step 8: cut out all parts of the lino except the black areas, do test prints 

This was very time consuming due to the sheer amount of area that was needed to be cut. After many tests prints was I only able to cut the lino cleanly enough 

Step 9: Print the black parts onto actual print. I printed a total of 5 completed prints 

It was not easy to make sure that the black colour was solid. I had to reprint in almost all the cases to get the darkness that I wanted