The artwork pictured above is my bird from the linoleum print-making project.
The process that was necessary to create a linoleum print involved many phases and processes.
The first phase was the research phase. During this phase, I searched the web for photos of animals that I could draw, and chose two: the hoatzin (pictured) and armadillo. Next, I gathered several reference photos of the animal and their habitat and printed them out. I pasted these photos in my sketchbook, which I used for the drawing phase.
The second phase was the drawing phase. In this phase, I drew a full-page picture of the animal in their habitat. I did not need to use color, as it was unnecessary and would not be integrated in the final product. After I completed the drawings of my hoatzin and armadillo, I chose the one I liked the most. Using a viewfinder, I found three compositions that I liked and picked one of them. I used the selected composition to create the outline for the final product during the transformation phase.
The third phase was the transformation phase. Using sketch paper, I copied the composition from my sketchbook. Carefully, I traced the lines on the back of the sketch paper. After I traced, I placed the sketch paper on my linoleum and traced again, transferring the lines onto the linoleum. During this process, I effectively transferred my drawing from my sketchbook to the linoleum. Before moving onto the cutting phase, I shaded in the regions of my linoleum that would be one color, leaving the other color regions blank.
The fourth phase was the cutting phase. Using a gouge tool and five differently sized toolheads, I carefully cut the shaded regions from my linoleum. The cutting process was long, tedious, and especially difficult when cutting the intricate parts of the linoleum. I had to cut deeply and cleanly to prevent paint from getting into the cracks during the painting phase.
The final phase was the printing phase. Printing involved two main tools: the benchhook and brayer. After putting acrylic paint on the benchhook, I used the brayer to spread the paint around the entire surface. When I had sufficiently coated my brayer with paint, I rolled the paint onto my linoleum print. Lining the linoleum up with some guide marks I had made earlier, I carefully pressed the print onto the paper. Next, I carefully lifted the entire paper off the table and turned it upside down. Pressing lightly on the paper (smoothing would cause the paint to smudge), I transferred the paint from the linoleum print onto my paper. If I changed colors, I had to wash off my linoleum between sessions. After completing several prints, I washed off my materials and returned them.
At the start of the project, I was not very fond of the entire idea of printmaking. After completing all of the necessary phases and seeing the final product, I am satisfied with the work I put into it. I felt like there were a lot of steps, as there were more than our typical art projects. The drawing phase was easy, aside from drawing the details in the background. My least favorite part of the project was the cutting, as it was tedious and difficult. If I made a mistake, I would be unable to fix it. Additionally, I had to make sure that there was either a white or black line in between objects of the same color. The printing phase was successful, despite a couple of mistakes in my practice prints. After a couple of tries, I was able to accurately determine the amount of paint I needed to create a successful print.
Ultimately, I am very satisfied with the final product. I learned how to apply my two-dimensional art to a three-dimensional print and use it reproduce my two-dimensional art. Using the viewfinder taught me how to find appealing compositions in my art, which improves my overall sense in drawing and selection. I learned how to use a linoleum cutter, and what kinds of steps and cuts are necessary for artwork that involves cutting. Overall, I enjoyed some parts of the project and did not care for others. Nonetheless, I am very satisfied with the final print.
