Linum Usitatissimun - Reduction Linocut Print

This is a Limited edition of only 9 prints. 3x8 inches printed on 210gsm sage green handmade cotton rag paper. These prints will be packaged with a 4x9 matte black paper that the cotton rag will be lightly attached to for framing. If you wish to remove the print from the black paper it can be carefully and easily done without any damage to the cotton rag paper.

Linum Usitatissimum has been cultivated since ancient times and is commonly referred to as linseed, the flower from which flax seed is derived.
The fiber of this ancient plant has been used to make cloth, rope, and paper. Linoleum, the material on which I carve my images, is a solidified mixture of linseed oil, flax, cork, wood flour, and pigments. This linocut reduction print was inspired by the properties of the materials used to make linoleum.
Flax was widely grown in ancient Egypt, where flowering flax was painted on temple walls, and mummies were embalmed with linen derived from flax.
Although it is still debated whether this was common Flax from the Mediterranean or another species in the genus, these linen fabrics were highly valued because of the labor involved in extracting the fibers from the plants. Egyptian priests wore only linen because flax was a symbol of purity.

Every single one of my prints is hand-printed and not a reproduction.
This print is a multi-color/ layer print. It is called a reduction print. There are many different printmaking techniques.
Traditional printmaking techniques include relief printing, lithography, intaglio printing, and screen printing. At the moment, I prefer linocut printmaking which is a type of relief printing. All of my prints are created using this process.
First I start by drawing the image desired to carve onto a block of linoleum. Areas to remain the color of the surface being printed on are carved from the block first. Then the ink is rolled onto the uncut surface of the block. I then lay the paper on top of the block, first attaching the tabs that hold the paper in place so that each time I lay down the paper the image is transferred with complete registration. When the paper has been removed the image then appears in reverse. In this case, this process is repeated as many times as needed to create the image desired with many different colors. Removing/cutting away each area desired to retain the color used. Each layer of color is taken away from the same linoleum block. The linoleum at the end of the process is almost completely carved away. Meaning you are never truly able to create the image made from this one block again. Always starting with the lightest and ending with the darkest color.
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