Three-colour Reduction Linocutting
Week 1
You will be shown how to begin with an image (whether colour or B&W) and convert it into three layers of printed colour.
You will work on the first of the three stages of transferring your chosen image onto your lino. You will be shown how to cut your design into the lino, ready to ink up and print your first coloured layer. There will be the opportunity to practise your cutting technique on test pieces of lino, and to experiment with different ways of manipulating the cutting tools to achieve a wide range of marks and shapes.
You will be printing your first layer onto multiple sheets of paper, changing colours in order to produce a set of variations that can then be combined with subsequent colours to produce a range of different outcomes.
You will also learn how to create a cardboard registration template that will ensure each layer of printing is perfectly aligned with previous layers on the paper.
Week 2
You will pick up from where you left off in Week 1, transferring the second stage of your design onto the lino, and then cutting, inking and printing it on top of your first layer.
You will be exploring how different print colours interact, and how different colour combinations can radically change the ‘feel’ of the printed image.
Week 3
You will cut, ink, and print multiple copies of the third and final stage of your three-colour print, again varying your colour choices to achieve the widest possible range of final outcomes.
Towards the end of this session, there will an opportunity to discuss the results you have obtained with your tutor and members of the group, and to receive feedback and suggestions for how you might develop your imagery further.
What you can expect to gain from the course
This workshop is suitable for all levels of ability, from absolute beginners to those with experience of linocutting who would like to take the technique further.
Through concentrated work across three weekly sessions, you will achieve a good standard of technical ability in each stage of three-colour reduction linocutting. You will be confident in your use of all the processes required for translating your source imagery into the language of print. In particular, your understanding of the expressive possibilities of print colour will be greatly enhanced.
What you will need to bring
All tools, materials and paper will be provided. For your part, you will need to decide in advance on the image you would like to use as the starting point for your explorations in linocut. To help with your decision-making, once you have signed up for the course and paid your fees, you will be sent a PDF document that gives examples of the sorts of images that work well in reduction linocutting (and of types of images to avoid, if possible).
Apart from your imagery, please bring with you a sketchpad and drawing materials.
Your Tutor
Matt Dennis has worked extensively in three-colour reduction linocutting over three decades as a printmaker, and as both Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design and Programme Leader on the MA Printmaking course at Middlesex University.
Three-colour Reduction Linocutting
6pm-9pm
Wednesday 29th January | 5th February| 12th February 2025
Course Fee: £150, payable in advance
How to book
Contact us at print.firstfloor@gmail.com, and you will be sent an invoice for the course fee. Once payment has been made via BACS, your place on the course will be reserved.
