Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 30 Minutes
You'll Need: Lino sheet, pencil, cutter, roller, acrylic paint, paper
- Draw out the shapes:
Start by drawing three simple shapes of your choice on the lino block. In this example, we used a triangle, a semi-circle, and a rectangle.
Use the finer blade of your lino cutting tools to carefully cut along the outline of each shape. Take your time and ensure precise cuts and as always, cut away from your body.
Switch to a wider blade on your lino cutting tools. Use the wider blade to cut away more of the lino sheet around the shapes. This will create a raised surface
for the shapes to act as stamps.
- Creating Shape Stamps:
Use scissors to cut out each shape from the lino block. Cut as close to the edges of the shapes as possible. The cut-out shapes will act as stamps for printing.
- Rolling Out the Paint:
Place a small amount of paint on a smooth and non-porous surface, such as a glass or acrylic palette. Use the roller to evenly spread and roll out the ink or paint, creating an even layer on the palette.
- Applying Paint to the Stamps:
Use the roller over the inked surface, ensuring it picks up a
sufficient amount of paint. Roll the inked roller onto the surface of each shape stamp, covering the raised areas with paint.
- Printing the Shapes:
Take a sheet of printing paper, preferably a different coloured sheet such as green in this example. Place the stamps onto the paper randomly.
Apply gentle and even pressure to transfer the paint from the stamp onto the paper. You can use the palm of your hands to press down on the paper.
- Creating Overlapping Prints:
Continue printing the shapes on the paper, layering them in different positions to
create a pattern. Experiment with different colour combinations and orientations
to achieve desired results. Overlap the prints to create more complex shapes and patterns.
- Repeating and Expanding the Pattern:
Once you are satisfied with the initial prints, repeat the process by re-inking the
stamps and printing them on more sheets of paper.
Overlay the prints to create a large sheet of patterned prints, allowing the shapes
to interact and form a cohesive design. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can create patterned prints using simple shapes as stamps.
Feel free to explore different shapes, colours, and arrangements to unleash your creativity and design unique patterns.