This DIY takes me back to Year 8 art with Mrs Shanahan. The floors of the wet room were chilly and grainy with a non-slip covering. The stools scraped up to the long tables, both of which were battered with years of use.
It wasn’t the most conducive location for creativity, and art was a mandatory subject so most of the students weren’t exactly rapt to be there. While my peers scraped and flicked at their tiles, I diligently scored out a pattern, learning the techniques that would cut a nice deep line.
This will be the first DIY I showcase for my ultimate goal: the DIY Picture Wall. The aim (just solidified in my head) is to make a picture wall using mainly my own art. The main colours will be black and white, with white frames used (although not in the photo above!).
I’d say this is an intermediate DIY. You’ll need a modicum of ‘arty talent’ and coordination to both draw the design and cut the lino.
Saying that, I always find, no matter the level of ‘arty talent’, the drive to succeed in producing something handmade is a large part of the success of a project like this.
You will need:
Paper
Pencil
Lino cut kit (I got mine from Riot! Art and Craft)
A piece of glass
A rolling pin
A frame
The parts in the kit can be purchased separately, but for a first timer I recommend a kit. Inside the kit: ink, roller, carving tools, lino matt and a palette knife.
The cost of the project comes just under $50, including frame. But once you’ve got the basic materials, each subsequent project will be as cheap as chips!
I traced the outline of the lino onto my paper for a full sized print, then drew a couple of designs. I decided to go with the stag, since they’re so in right now with Game of Thrones.
Use the tools to carve out the design. If you’ve got a spare piece of tile, I’d recommend playing with the tools a little. The ‘v’ shaped blades give a nice straight edge, so I usually go with them.
Tip: Cutting is easier with a warm tile, so put it in the sun before using. Microwaving is an option, but be careful. If it gets too hot the lino can tear.
Tip: Brace yourself with your wrist and take short, shallow cuts to begin with. If you go too deep, you’ll take a chunk of tile out and totally ruin your line. If your line is too shallow, you can always go over again, but you can’t put tile back.
Tip: Be careful! If your blade slips, it will cut any part of you that’s in the way. (Spoken from experience).
Time to test the carving! Take the glass tile and spatula and scoop some ink onto the glass. Warm the ink by squishing it around with the spatula. You’ll notice the consistency changing. Once the ink is warm, cover the roller and then put it onto the tile.
Tip: You might need to coat the roller a couple of times before it is completely covered. Don’t be alarmed if the ink goes down into the grooves a little, only the tile that hasn’t been cut will make a mark on the paper.
Ink the paper! There’s a couple of ways of doing this. You can put the lino onto the paper and press down, or you can put the paper onto the lino and roll with a pin, which is what I did. Make sure all the paper is in contact with the ink by pressing down, then peel off.
Tip: I have never been happy with the first design on my lino cut. I use the first print as the opportunity to see where more cuts can be made to improve the print. I went back twice before I was happy with the final design.
Tip: Don’t be scared to discard a print and start again. If there are white spaces where there shouldn’t be, you need to put more ink on the lino. If there are splotches in the lines, you’ve been a little too heavy handed.
Let the final print dry and then cut to size and frame! I used a scrapbooking picture frame that I found on a random wander in Kmart.
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