This exercise allows experimentation with a range of different tools in order to create a broader range of cuts and textures.
My selection of experiemental mark making tools
I first made marks on hessian backed lino, despite warming it on a radiator I found that some of my tools wouldn’t easily make clear visible marks (wire wool, sandpaper and the hammer head) but I persevered, interested to see how the squares would print once ink was applied. Needless to say, I had squares full of ink and no marks. I then repeated the exercise with easy cut lino, mark making was much easier and when printed I did get marks in every square.
Left image – hessian backed lino / Right image – easy cut lino
I noticed a marked difference in the way tools needed to be held to create marks and cut the lino. Most my chosen tools had to be pulled towards me rather than pushed away. The screwdrivers need pressure from the top of the handle and the hammers I used as you would a hammer to create indentations.
My favourite tools were those that left serated marks, like the steak knife and sharp dental stick. It was interesting to see that the marks into the lino with these two tools also created raised edges that added to the surrounding texture. The + screwdriver could be pressure manipulated to create varying sizes of mark. The putty scrapper left very clean marks and the wire wool and sandpaper, which I didn’t enjoy working with, left marks that could be used to build textured backgrounds or add soft tone.
As a further experiment I took the fork, putty scrapper, dental stick and screwdrivers, rolled two colours of ink. Some of the finer marks (dental stick) had to be re-marked as they bcame lost / drowned in the ink.
Review – Project 9 It hadn’t really occurred to me that ‘non-lino cutting tools’ could be used to effect with lino so this was an interesting and fruitful exercise from which I obtained varied results dependent on the chosen tools and the way that I used them.
BILLYDOOPRINT1 