Lino Printing

An Artform for Naturalists

Linocut, also known as lino print or lino printing, is an artistic technique which uses a sheet of linoleum as relief surface. Using a V-shaped chisel, the design is cut into the linoleum, with the uncarved - and therefore raised - areas representing the mirror image of the desired print. The carved lino sheet can then be used to print the design on paper, fabric or even wood, allowing for the creation of decorative prints, postcards, fashion items or wallpapers.

Because of the monochrome nature of most lino prints, textures and patterns are especially important to design a recognizable image. When creating a lino print of natural objects, such as birds, insects, flowers or other plants, this requires the designer to pay close attention to the structure of feathers, scales or veins. For this reason, I believe lino printing to be an ideal artform for both aspiring and expert naturalists alike, as the technique trains observation skills and attention to detail.