The main idea that guided this artwork was to create a Linoleum print block that could make clean prints. For my design I wanted to do something with nature. The birds are coming out as we near summer so I thought what better to do than a bird on a branch with some clouds. I added the clouds mostly because I had to create a print with half black. I first sketched this design out on a plain piece of paper to make sure it was how I wanted it to be before I went straight into carving.

This art was made with a few simple tools. In the beginning of the process I drew my design on a piece of paper and then used graphite transfer to transfer that design onto my lino block. Once I was done with transferring it I started carving. I used lino carving tool with different widths to clean out the empty space I didn't want ink to be on when I transfered my print. Once I was done carving the hard part started. I had to make prints not blotchy and this was difficult. This required a lot of strength and time to get the right amount of ink and pressure to leave a almost perfect print. I started using a spoon to try to transfer my ink but later found that the ink press worked wonders and made it alot easier to get good prints. Once I was done with my regular prints I had to create my two ink print. This involved me taking paper and blocking off the areas I didn't want one color ink to go to. After that print I had to print on a different surface which I choose a map for. After, I had to make my extended print with involved me coloring on top of a print.

This project took a lot of time and focus. I struggled with getting my prints to be to my level of perfect but once I tried the ink press my work glided easy from there. I would love to try printing on to a shirt to see how its different and alike but in the end I enjoyed this project and trying something new.