Relief Process

             Relief prints are made by which a raised surface is carved and inked, the result being transferred to paper or cloth. The image will print the areas that were not carved away. Tools such as carving knives, gouges, and chisels are used to carve the block. Relief etching, woodcut, linocut, and wood engravings are some of the forms of relief printmaking.

             Woodcut is the most ancient expression of printmaking. Wooden stamps were the first “relief prints”. With the development of paper in China during the 2^nd century A.D., the stamps evolved into wood blocks. Once paper was produced in large quantities during the 14^th century, woodcuts made their way to France, Germany, and Italy. Woodcuts were used in books, magazines, and newspapers. The invention of movable type enabled people to print entire pages. 

            The contemporary artist uses linoleum and/or wood to create images with graphic qualities. Linoleum has no particular direction to its grain and does not tend to split, which are common problems when carving with wood. Linoleum is also much easier to cut than wood, which must be carved away, but the pressure of the printing process degrades the plate faster. It is also difficult to create larger works due to the material's fragility. The grain of wood gives a nice texture to the print. 

For more information please visit:

Relief Printmaking

 http://www.artoftheprint.info/relief.html

Adabel Allen

End of the Road

6 x 9"

Woodcut

Tanya Landin

Incorporating

10 x 13"

Color Reduction Linoleum Cut