Linoleum Prints

For this project I performed printmaking using a linoleum block. Linoleum printmaking is when you put ink on a carved block and then apply paper onto the block. On e paper, the carved space is white and the space that was not carved is all ink. My assignment was to make four different final prints: one solid color, one multi color, one altered (with other materials like colored pencils), and one on a different background (like a map). This required a process of making multiple prints to get the four best. I made a total of 12.

To start this project I picked an image I took in Washington, D.C. Of the Washington monument. I printed this out and traced it on my block of linoleum. Then, I carved out the tracing of the monument and made some shapes in the air representing the sun shining of the top of the monument to make the background a little more interesting. Then I started the printmaking process. First I applied the ink on the block with a brayer, making sure not to put too much on, and then put the paper on top of the block and pressed them together with a press. Then I took the paper off and had my print. My first prints were smudgy at first but then I made some better ones. These first ones were made with black ink. Once I had a good solid black print, I worked on a multicolor one where I took one of my black prints and printed in Orange on top of it. I did a altered print by using marker to trace the outline of a print I did in pink with a blue marker. For my final print I printed on a map of the mall in Washington, D.C.

I used the Washington monument in this project because I had just recently gone on a trip to Washington, D.C. The Washington monument was one of my favorite parts of the trip so that was why I used this picture. I also thought it would be interesting, yet not too detailed so that it wouldn't be too difficult to carve it. I decided to print it on a map of Washington, D.C. Because it pertained to the Washington monument.