AN INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC BLOCK DESIGN

  I truly love graphic art design and printing in all its facets, from the simplicity of cardboard ribs, duoprints, and other introductory print techniques to the joy of linoleum/rubber block printing.

  Inherent in block printing is the expression of drawing skills, textural and surface design, unending color blends and applications, opportunities for many collage diversities and multiple copies of prints to share with others. What more could one desire?

  Let's take a brief look at the essential materials needed. All are easily obtainable and anyone can enjoy creating graphic prints with the hand tools required.

TOOLS

  Battleship linoleum has been a basic staple of block prints for decades. It's obtainable in rolls, cut sheets (B) and mounted on wood (A). It's a very firm material and for easier cutting should be heated with a hair dryer before use. Softer, easier to cut rubber materials are called "Paoli Soft-Cut" and "E-Z-Cut"(C), more expensive than linoleum, but these can be cut on both sides for 2 students.

  Cutting tools for either material are easily obtainable in individual or set form. Small wood carving tools are great cutters. These need to be honed on stone for sharpness. The bottom right example has a chuck that allows replaceable blades. The small insert shows the various gouges and v-venor blades which are obtainable by the dozen for this tool. Gouges are great for general purposes and v-venors are very suitable contour cutters.

TEXTURES

  The life of a print begins with its textures and careful manipulation of the tools that create them. Forms, shapes, backgrounds, and details are effected by the variety of textural cuts that define them. The green battleship linoleum block above shows nicks, parallels, circles, twists, continuous line, and different spacing using various cutting tools. The left gray linoleum shows simple shape formations, textural backgrounds and shading by size differentiations. This practise is essential in learning tool, line and texture control. It is significant to note that good drawing skills perpetuate excellence in block design. However, one can augment the other.