Lino block

Soft linoleum on a canvas base. Ideal for use as a printing plate after cutting out motifs and lines in the surface using a linoleum knife.

Draw the desired motif with a pencil on the surface and either cut into the line or the background behind the line with a linoleum knife. Always make sure to cut away from yourself, as the blades can be very sharp. Evenly apply lino ink to the printing block with a lino roller, place a piece of paper over the printing block and roll over the back of the paper – unless you have a relief printing press that can give an even sharper impression.

To work intensively with lino blocks is a classic activity for school art lessons. But this age-old craft is also really exciting for other people, whether you work professionally with imagery or just love to experiment in the creative workshop. If you just want to make little pictures, you can cut the block into smaller pieces – and even if you don't have a relief printing press available, you can still get great-looking prints with a good old lino roller