Lino Printing...

After reviewing the workshops and getting feedback of the tutors I decided I wanted to have a go at a lino print of Huxleys face. I think the fine liner face with the pattern and decoration would translate well into a lino cut. But I want to combine the peyote brain concept with the more rendered line drawing of Huxley.

Finished lino cuts:

• I went straight for a big sheet of lino so I could fit a nice amount of detail and pattern within the face.
• It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to make the peyote brain. Id thought about using mono print to create the brain and then combine it with lino for the rest of the face.
• I eventually decided to make a 2 layer lino print, with a green brain shape on one layer and then the face/head on another.
• It was difficult to figure out how to line them up, But i figured if I got to pieces of lino the exact same size, and then traced the face design onto both sheets in the same place. I could then cut the brain out of one and the face out of the other.
• I then realised i would only need to use one corner of the lino sheets to line them up. (putting the top corner in the same place of the registration sheet each time.)

• I couldn't decide weather to make a solid brain shape, or loads of separate circles. So I cut a solid brain shape first (printed loads) and then cut back into the same piece of lino and made more prints.
• I had to print loads of the brains before I could print the face, making sure they where lined up with the registration sheet.
• I printed loads of brains incase any of the prints messed up, I had enough to work with.
• The cut texture around the brain lino was coming through in the prints which I didn't expect, so I made a paper cut out to go around it too stop the texture from printing (can see in pics above). Because I wanted the prints to be clean and bold with crisp edges.

• I really really like how the print came out (better than I expected) I like how clean it looks, almost like a screen print, using the lino press is what gives this effect.  
• I started off using a small roller to roll the ink on, it didnt cover the whole lino and resulted in some patchy texture. I swapped it for a massive roller that covered the lino and it gave me much denser and solid prints. I also rolled two layers of ink on to give a really dark/bold black.
• I think lino cutting works really with the way that I make line work and pattern. This could be a good way for me to finish designs to a professional level in the future. It looks clean and sharp and works so much better than a pen drawing of a face like this. I often create line work in a way that connects and joins up with other line, so this worked hand in hand with cutting because the lines naturally want to end where others start.
• The two layers have worked really well, I like how the black over laps the green and there is colour sat behind his eye, it makes it much more interesting.
• The brain didnt line up quite how I wanted it too but i think this works well the hand cut feel of the piece, if do more lino then I will work with idea of off set layers.
• Looking back at the whole process and how much fun I had making it, Id love to explore further what I can do with a patterned face, I could make it much more abstract and abnormal, and also experiment with separating the face up into different sections (like the brain). 
• Im pleased I left it inside the black square (id intended to cut it off), but it contains the face nicely and it sits evenly inside it. It also makes the white and green inside the face more vibrant. This format makes it feel more finalised a striking, rather than a face floating around a white page.

Here are the two variations of the brain, I really cant choose which one I prefer. I guess the circular one would suite the concept more because it looks more peyotes. But something about the solid brain feels more structured and complete.

I  love the colour variations, it has thrown me off wanting to use black and green. I really like the full colour designs (red and blue/green), they work really well. I always thought black was needed to enhance my line work, but the lines have translated well into colour, I will consider using full colour prints for my finals. It could be beneficial to get out the habit of using black in all my work.

• Im pleased i tried some colour variations, the act of physically cutting and printing my own design forced me to push the colours variations. Although the process of rolling out new inks took a very long time I was eager to see what results I could get.
• Some of these designs could definitely be potential finals, a lot more work and crafting went into this than I intended but it has payed off and I feel like I achieved and learnt a lot within this process.

All the colour variations...