the studio
What is blockprinting?
For my botanical art, I use a very old printing technique. It originates from China and was invented in the 7th century. It is so special because it revolutionised the world. It greatly simplified the production of books, thereby spreading knowledge to more people.
I carve my design into a linoleum or wooden block. I have to carefully remove all the areas that are to remain white later using my carving knife. I work in reverse, as the image is only created through printing, just like with a stamp. Once the printing plate is carved, I mix the chosen colours and apply them to the plate using a roller. I then transfer my work onto handmade paper.
Every sheet of handmade paper is different from every other sheet of handmade paper, and every manual print is different from every other. That is what makes block printing so special and unique. Every piece is one of a kind.
About my printing press
To transfer the design onto the paper, I apply pressure to the linoleum or wood block. This can be done quite easily using tools such as a ‘baren’ or even a wooden spoon. However, it is quite exhausting.
Over the past year, not only have my print editions increased in size, but so too have the formats of my prints. That is why I began looking for an alternative that would make the strenuous printing work easier for me.
After extensive research, I finally found a simple and cost-effective solution that works very well for linocut and woodcut printing. I have created a detailed guide for the printing press I developed, complete with materials, plans and images. You can find the guide >> here <<