I’ve taught three workshops this week. I must admit, I’ve been having an absolute ball! It’s been such a joy to bounce design ideas around and develop these into linocut prints.
I never wanted to work for myself because I’d always enjoyed working as part of a design team. On reflection, I’ve realised that teaching workshops gives me that same sense of fulfilment. Isn’t it funny how things work out!
Monday 18 October 21
Jane created a lino print of a clementine, Janet carved a poppy seed head design, Linda, a tree and Christine a fox linocut print.
Janet, Linda and Christine were complete beginners and love trying different types of crafts. Jane has recently done my online course, so it was great to be able to help her develop her skills further.
Everyone got to grips with carving and printing so well that they even had time to carve and print a few mini designs at the end.
What did you enjoy the most about the day?
“Learning a new skill. Small group. Lots of one to one support."
"Being able to work at your own pace. TRying something new. "
"Learning more. Questions answered! Great atmosphere. Michelle: a really good teacher. Love the studio! Small numbers."
"Learning new techniques."
Tuesday 19 October 21
More inky fun. Kate came all the way from Suffolk! She’s a professional illustrator. This was her first time trying lino print and she created a monochrome print of a village near home. Lesley made a landscape print from a photo of where she used to live. Jenny carved a hare based on an embroidery design she’d made. Judi made a linocut print of seed heads.
What did you enjoy the most about the day?
“I enjoyed everything. Meeting you and the other attendees. Learning to linocut was great fun. Very therapeutic and inspiring.”
“Very informative. Wonderful company. To be able to take home a wonderful print. Thank you.”
“Everything - Learning for the first time to lino print. Perfect balance of learning and doing.”
“Learning something new.”
Thursday 21 October 21
Peter and Mark are self-taught and make prints at home. Peter has been studying my beginners online course. Rosemary and Stefania were complete beginners.
Peter created a linocut print of a seahorse. We spent time developing his inking techniques. Stefania made a print which included text. One of the harder things to do as you’re carving the lettering in reverse. Rosemary created a design of flowers in a vase
Mark made a print inspired by pots of paint brushes in my studio.
Very effective use of negative space within the prints. This is the balance of printed areas contrasting against the white paper non-printed areas.
What did you enjoy the most about the day?
“One to one guidance over inking techniques. The systematic approach to the day, which culminated in the best lino prints I’ve done - so far!”
“Learning the whole process - from designing print to producing finished pieces. Thank you!”
“Practice and learning new techniques. See each other's patterns.”
“Everything, all of the course was very informative.”
Would you like to learn how to make a linocut print?
Online courses
Online self-paced learning. Full access for one year, so that you can study at your own pace and home. Instructional videos and step-by-step guides.
Beginners guide to linocut printing
How to make a multi-block linocut print
Linocut workshops
My linocut workshops are all held in my York print studio. I teach in small groups of no more than four people, so that everyone gets lots of one to one tuition.
Introduction to linocut printing workshop
Follow on 'jigsaw' linocut printing workshop
See my linocut workshops and online courses page for links to each of my courses and workshops.
Linocut and printmaking tools and materials
Find out more about the tools and equipment needed to create linocut prints in my 'lino cutting equipment' blog.
See step-by-step how I make my linocut prints
See examples of how I make my linocut prints in the Studio Diary section of my blog.
To be first to hear about my latest designs, online courses and workshops please join my mailing list.
Happy linocutting!
Michelle
About the author
Michelle Hughes is a North Yorkshire landscape artist. Much of her work depicts the Yorkshire landscape and Yorkshire coast, including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.
Michelle loves exploring the British countryside by bike or on foot, camera in hand, capturing ideas for her next prints. Back in her garden studio, Michelle creates simple but stylised silhouettes based on her photographs, and hand carves these shapes into lino. She hand prints with an etching press, using oil-based inks to create tonal blocks of colour.
Michelle’s original linocut prints are limited editions.
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