CARVING A TRADITION

Exploring Linocut Printmaking with IB Diploma Visual Arts Students

Our Diploma Visual Arts students are getting their creative juices flowing in a unique and exciting way: through linocut printmaking. This printmaking project is an important new tradition for Diploma students at ISB, where it is introduced as part of their first-year IB art curriculum. The project provides an excellent opportunity for the students to develop their skills and explore their creativity, while also introducing them to a traditional art form that has been around for decades. Our students are putting their own spin on it by using their creativity and artistic skill to make beautiful and unique artworks.

Measuring at a substantial 42 x 59.4 cm (A2), the large scale of the prints allows for impactful and bold creations. The students’ ability to work on this scale is a testament to their skill and dedication to the art form.

The linocut printmaking process starts with a blank piece of linoleum, which the students carve into their desired design using sharp carving tools. Once the design is complete, ink is rolled onto the linoleum block, and the design is transferred onto paper by applying pressure to the block. The end result is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind print that captures the creativity and vision of the artist.

The students have been experimenting with two different printing techniques: one–colour print and reduction print. The one–colour print involves printing the entire design in a single colour, while the reduction print involves carving away parts of the linoleum block between each colour layer, allowing the colours to build up in stages. By using a limited colour palette or by building up colours in stages, the students are able to create artworks that are rich and dynamic, with a depth and complexity that would be difficult to achieve with a single layer of ink.

What’s especially exciting about this project is that it allows the students to explore their creativity and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. The linocut printmaking process can be challenging and requires a steady hand and a lot of patience, but the students have risen to the challenge and are producing artworks that are impressive.