Today I finished cutting the small lino block of a hare that I started a couple of days ago. When it was completed, I liked the idea of cutting a mirror image to make a pair of hares. They’re similar, not identical and I cut them with my set of Flexcut tools, using a Flexcut Slipstrop to sharpen the gouges every 4 or 5 cuts. If you let the tools get blunt, it’s a real hassle to resharpen them, much easier to keep them sharpened as you work. And they’re pretty sharp – I managed to draw blood on 2 of my fingers, despite using a bench hook to cut on.
It’s good to get back to a simple technique like block cutting. I’m a huge fan of paleolithic art and one of the earliest art forms was rock carvings, or petroglyphs. Carving into lino or wood blocks is a similar process and although there’s no evidence that prints were taken off petroglyphs, it’s a small step to carving onto wood and using pigments to make prints. Fabric printing from blocks is thousands of years old and I feel this continuity of the practice whenever I carve a new block.
Next step is to do a proof print from each block to see if the image is complete or if I need to do any more cutting.
scribblah 
Brilliant.
Thanks 🙂
Twins! I’m intrigued to see how you produce the final print, it’s going to be fab
Thanks, I hope so. I might print them singly first then think about how to print them together. I’m thinking chine colle
ooh, I love a bit of chine colle. I’m sure you’ll have a great time while you work it out. 🙂
Yes, I’m partial to a bit of chine colle myself 🙂
Have you ever worked with Speedball cutters? That’s my preferred tool-multiple sizes of wedge shaped gouges and a leaf shaped knife for corners. Also, I outline outer edges with an X-Acto knife, so the out cuts are clean.
Next- the wonders of Gorilla Glue!
No I haven’t tried them, never even seen a set. Gorilla Glue????
Oh I have to try that one day. I’ve never done that but I would like to try to see if I like this technique. Thanks for sharing. Your progress looks very good.
Have a lovely day.
It’s good fun. It’s a bit like stamping but you need a decent printing press to get good quality prints 🙂
Look forward to seeing the hares in print. I’m intrigued by your carving set. Do you find you use most of the blades? There is a smaller set available, and I worry that I’d end up using my 3 favorite blades anyway… Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Yes, you’re right, there are a couple I hardly use. They’re woodcarving tools and this was the only set available locally. I mostly use the 3 round gouges and the v shaped one. I’d but a small er set if I was doing it again. The slipstrop is definitely worth having as it keeps the tools sharp.
Thanks, Rosie. I already purchased the slipstrop so I’ll look at the smaller set and see which blades are included. I love new toys!
Me too! Boys Toys? Move over lads lol
Thank You for liking my Painting!!! I love your work !!! 🙂 *Cynthia
Thanks Cynthia 🙂
Most excellent! Looking forward to seeing how the prints turn out.
Thank you – maybe proofing next week 🙂