Etch, print and repeat.

On the 15th and 16th July artists Fabian Osborne and Jenny Thomas ran their latest ‘Intro to: Lino Etching’ weekend course! 

For those of you unfamiliar with the technique, Lino etching is the process of using Caustic soda paste (a strong Alkali solution mixed with wallpaper paste) to etch the surface of a linoleum block to create a range of marks. It’s a very painterly technique, capable of producing gestural marks, gradations of tone, and beautiful unpredictable textures. 

On the first day attendees explored how caustic soda paste eats away the lino. They were shown how to mask out areas using various materials and mediums to create marks and shapes on the lino. They printed proofs (test prints) of their blocks throughout the day in black and white. 

The second day of lino etching was all about colour and layers, this is where the prints really started to come alive! Attendees were still able to etch their blocks throughout the morning, allowing them to tweak their designs before committing to printing for the rest of the day. 

For Fabian and Jenny their courses are just another day of research as lino etching is still quite an experimental technique. They learn just as much as you do when you join them on one of their workshops. 

If this sounds like an exciting print process and you want to have a go, their next workshop is ‘Process Taster: Lino Etching’ running from 6-9pm on Thursday 23rd November 2023. 

#Printmaking #Printmakingnearme #LinoEtching #Peopleofprint #Westyorkshireprintworkshop

Roll and Reveal video.