The Start
I work directly from my photographs. I use sketchbooks to make initial drawings, but I primarily draw directly onto the lino. I use 2 types of lino, the traditional hessian backed and Japanese double sided vinyl, but I mainly use the Japanese vinyl as I like how easy it is to carve into when I am creating the layers.
My drawings tend to be loose, where I focus on outlining the key areas and making sure the dimensions are correct.
Printing
I use a combination of oil and water based oil relief inks. Once I have carved the layer to be printed I'll mix up my paint and start printing the areas I want the ink to appear. I usually print one colour at a time, but sometimes I can print 2 or occasionally 3.
I find this stage really exciting, but it can be complicated as I have to visualise how the ink will look on paper and how the colours could interact with each other. This is where having a proof print is important as I make decision from this print moving forward.
Carving into the lino
I use my carving tools like a pen to create the lines and detail I want. It can be a slow process or angst inducing if you carve the wrong section (you just have to embrace the mistakes and incorporate them into your design), but I find it meditative and really enjoy this process of slowly creating and revealing a scene by carving layer by layer.
The layers
I have to distil all the colours I see in my photographs into several layers. This process involves thoughtful decision making on what details are important to me and what I can allude to in my work.
I frequently refer to my photographs to ensure the colours are as accurate as possible, allowing me to achieve a sense of realism in my work.
The middle stages
This is where I can see how the colours play with each other and how the layers are building up to create a scene. I can see my work coming together, but it's still at a stage where I can feel unsure if it will turn out how I visualised it in my mind.
Final Piece
After all the hours spent carving, colour mixing, printing and repeat, you get the final result. This is what I work for, a piece of art I am proud of and one which I hope will hold the viewers gaze.
