Linocut Bespoke Tuition

- tailored to you - a chance to learn and experiment and try whatever you would like to!

This in-depth workshop is designed for people who really want to get to grips with lino, either as a beginner or someone with some printmaking experience who wants to develop their skills further. This is the workshop for you if you have struggled to ge an idea to work on lino, if you are working on a specific project, or if you don't want group tuition and prefer to be taught alone or with a friend. We can go over all the basics as well as try out specialist techniques such as registration, planning layers for multiblock prints, gradient or rainbow rolls, honing your tools etc. I can also cover topics such as planning the layers for reduction printing, free inking and making printing masks.We will also go over problem-solving in printmaking, so that you leave more confident about how to improve your own printmaking practice.

This 6 hour workshop in my kitchen studio in Kent will be tailored to you, and you will be able to try a wide range of professional equipment in a friendly environment, and ask questions along the way. You will be leaving with a better idea on improving your printmaking, and you will take home all the prints and blocks you make on the day. You will also receive a goodybag full of surface and paper samples, as well as an extensive information sheet of the many printmaking equipment options available.  [*I will not provide any tools to take home*]

What you'll use: 
- carving surfaces (lino, flooring lino, speedycarve, polymer plates - all 10cm square or A6 size)
- carving tools (Esdee, Pfeil, Japanese, flexcut)
- brayers (soft & hard)
- inks (oil & water based, such as Cranfield and Hawthorn)
- extenders, drier and tack reducers for ink
- printmaking papers
- presses (a Victorian cast-iron book press and a Woodzilla lever press)
- hand printing equipment - bone folders, wooden spoons, bamboo barens
- registration devices such as the Ternes-Burton system
- honing devices (slipstrop, honing compound, leather)

What to bring: 

You are very welcome to bring your own designs / sketches, and there are vintage books and illustrations here for for inspiration should you need it.  If you already own carving tools it's a good idea to bring these along so you learn new skills with familiar tools as well as those used in the workshop.  Please wear old clothes or a craft apron, because ink does get everywhere! I will provide tea, coffee and biscuits but please being your own packed lunch. As this is a tailored workshop, we'll be messaging beforehand so you can let me know the particular areas you would like to learn about.

The Practicalities: 

Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasionally Saturdays - we'll arrange a day to suit

Time: 9:30 am to 3:30 (6 hours)

Location:  central Maidstone, Kent (address will be provided upon booking)
Parking: Free parking on the road (please allow time to find parking spaces).  
Refreshments: Tea / coffee / biscuits provided throughout the workshop. Please bring your own lunch.