Linoleum Block Printing

Artist Statement:

The symbol Valknut is a Viking symbol that was also used by the Anglo-Saxons and ancient Germanic peoples before Christianity was accepted. The Vulknut symbol is associated with the dead and can be seen at Viking burials and anciant urns. I chose to make this symbol because I myself find Norse mytholgy facinating and this symbol seemed like the perfect thing to carve.

The materials I used consisted of various graphite pencils, paper, a sharpie, a linoleum block, and a carving tool.

The first thing that I did was draw the Valknut symbol mirroredon a piece of paper. I then shaded the back of the paper with a soft pencil. I layed the paper onto the linoleum block so the shaded side was down. I then went over all of the lines again with a pencil to transfer them over onto the linoleum block. Once I had the mirrored Valknut on the linoleum block I went over them again with a sharpie. After all of that was complete I then carved everything from out around it and made my printing block.