Hello

Welcome to my first blog and introduction to my website Black Peppercorn Art

I'm Jackie,

I had taken a long break from creating art and a friend asked why? which got me thinking. I have no explanation as to why I chose printing, except that it was something I had done at school (many years ago) and I loved the print I made. I just knew I wanted to do something creative which I could do at home, so I brought a lino kit and did my first print in March 2022.

Right from the start I knew I wanted to do reduction print, as I love colour and didn't want to restrict myself to using only one. I remember buying some (incorrect) paper and using acrylic ink. The first print was not great, but I was very proud of it, and from that point I was hooked on the reduction method, and wanting to improve my technique.

I started to do research into artists who specialised in reduction printmaking, looked online, read books, watched YouTube videos etc. and learnt through trial and error, as I did one print after another.

Key things I've learnt

1. Using a kit is a great way to see if you enjoy printmaking, in an economical and a low stakes way. I managed to create several prints using the contents included in the kit.

2. Use the correct type of paper made for relief printing. Individual sheets are more than adequate, and you can cut down to the size you want. Using the right paper will make all the difference. Experiment with different papers to see what you prefer using.

3. Use ink which is designed for relief printing. I thought using a block print medium to make acrylic ink suitable for printing would be fine, but I learnt on that very first print that was not the case (for me anyway). Start with the primary colours, black, white and an extender.

4. Once you know you want to continue printmaking look into upgrading your lino cutting tools. Upon doing research I found many artist used Pfeil tools, so I waited for a sale and invested in a set of 5. They are quite expensive, but they are fantastic tools, and for me worth the investment. I've used these 5 to create all the prints I've done to date.

It's taken a lot of time and learning to get to this point, so I hope you find the art I create, and website a pleasure to scroll through. If you have any thoughts on my art or want to share any of the tips you've learnt along your printing journey please share and leave a comment.