Easy two-colour jigsaw block print › The Weekend Beckons

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure.

Do you want to have multiple colours in a single block print? A jigsaw block print lets you do just that. With a jigsaw linoprint, you can print two or more colours at once. This can save you time over printing multiple colours separately, yet elevate a print compared to a single colour. In this post, I’ll show you how to print poppies in two colours.

What is a jigsaw print? It’s a block print carved out of a single lino block, where the block is also cut into pieces so you can ink them in separate colours.

Supplies

Gather some tools and supplies for this project. If you’ve carved a block print before, you may already have most of these items.

Lino block. For a simpler carving, like these poppies, you can use the soft rubbery kind, like Speedball Speedy Carve (the pink blocks) or Nasco Softoleum. If your own design is more complex and detailed, you can also use the traditional lino.
Lino carving tools
Precision knife, like an x-acto knife
Pencil and paper for sketching
Block printing ink. I’m using water-based ink but you can use oil-based if you prefer.
Brayers – one per ink colour
Inking plate
Printmaking paper
Baren or wooden spoon

If you’ve never carved or printed a block print before, I highly recommend you check out my linocut for beginners post for a much more in-depth look at how to create your own linocut.

Watch me demonstrate how to do a jigsaw block print on my YouTube channel.

Step 1: design

Sketch out your flowers. I’ve chosen a pair of poppies in a little vase. As you design your image, remember that you’ll be cutting the block into pieces so don’t make each section too small. Also keep in mind that you need to be able to assemble the pieces together while they are inked and wet, so keep it simple.

My poppy design will have three pieces. The two flowers will be one piece, while the stems, leaves and vase will be two pieces. All three pieces will slide together easily.

Step 2: carve

Transfer your design to the carving block. I usually trace it onto tracing paper, which I then flip, pencil-side down, and rub the back until the design transfers. You can also draw with a pencil onto the carving block directly.

Using your carving tools, begin carving your block. You want to remove anything that will be white, leaving the areas that will be colour uncarved.

Start with the smallest v-gouge and carve away one width around your design. Move to increasingly larger gouges as you continue carving until you’ve finished.

Next, you’ll create your jigsaw cuts. Take the precision knife and begin cutting your jigsaw into sections. You may need to slice the same spot more than one time until you completely separate each piece. Repeat this process for each section that needs to be printed a different colour.

Step 3: ink and print

Put a little of each ink colour onto your inking plate. I’m using red for the poppies and green for the stems, leaves and vase. Roll out the red with one brayer, then roll the green with the other brayer. Make sure to not get one colour into the other – you want nice, clean colours.

Now roll the red ink onto the flowers, followed by the green ink onto the stems and vase. Push the pieces together from the sides until your jigsaw pieces are assembled, making sure not to touch the ink.

Carefully place your printmaking paper onto the inked blocks. Being careful to not move the paper, rub the back of the paper using your baren or wooden spoon. Now, lift your paper up and admire your two-colour print!

Learn more

Interested in learning all about lino printing? Check out a few of my past blog posts to find out more.

Get the supplies

Pick up some of the supplies at your local art supply shop or on Amazon:

Canada