Linocut supplies for beginners

So you’ve decided to try out block printing, and are figuring out what linocut supplies for beginners you should pick up. I’ve been lino printing for a few years, and have tried out quite a few different supplies so I’ll let you know the basics of what you’ll need.

Watch me show the items any block printing beginner will need on my YouTube channel.

Items to create your block

Lino block

Lino blocks come in a couple variations. 

• Soft lino blocks. I recommend these for beginners since they’re easy to carve. You’ll be able to have your first carving completed fairly quickly, and you can start getting the hang of the block-printing process. The downside is many of the soft lino blocks are not the greatest quality. Lower quality blocks might mean you can’t get the same detail when you carve and you’ll be able to get fewer prints.
  • Speedball Speedy-Carve lino. These are readily available in many stores and inexpensive. While this block won’t be the highest quality, they’re still excellent for beginners. Don’t expect to be able to use it for hundreds of prints or to carve fine details, however, they are a solid option for anyone trying out lino printing. 
  • Moo-Carve carving blocks. Another inexpensive option for beginners. Full disclosure: I haven’t tried this brand out yet but I’ve heard good things for it’s ease of carving and printing. 
  • Nasco softkut block printing material. This material is tricky to find but if you can get the version that’s ¼” thick, it’ll serve you well. It’s easy to cut yet you can get far more detail than many of the other soft materials, which means you can get more prints out of it. 
• Traditional lino block, which you’ll likely find fairly easily in stores. This can be a bit tougher to carve so I wouldn’t necessarily use it for your very first project. If you can only find this, and not one of the soft materials, this will work. Be aware that it can be challenging to carve if the room isn’t very warm, so heat it up with a heating pad or do your carving in front of a sunny window if you’re having issues. The traditional lino blocks hold detail very well and stand up to many print sessions.
  • Speedball unmounted linoleum. These are the classic carving blocks which are the workhorse for many lino artists. Easy to find and the price is great. 

Carving tools 

Once you have your carving block, you’ll need a carving tool. Any beginner will be served well by using the Speedball linoleum cutter. It has several different blades hidden in its handle, which allows you to get to know different blade sizes and shapes, and what you prefer for your carving and art style.  Note that the blades can’t be sharpened and will need to be replaced when they become dull.

Bench hook

While not necessary, a bench hook or some other tool or material to help keep your block in place while carving is not only helpful, but keeps you safer. It allows you to use one side of the bench hook as a barrier to keep your block from sliding while carving, giving you more leverage and avoiding temptation to use your hand as a brace. This bench hook also doubles as a surface to roll your ink onto.

Learn more about lino safety in my previous blog post on how to stay safe while lino printing.

Items to print your block

So you’ve carved your block and now you’re excited to see how it prints. This stage always feels so magical.

Ink

Of course, every printmaker needs some ink. I’d advise beginners to start with a water-based ink. It’s easy to clean up and dries quickly so you don’t have to sit around for days or weeks waiting for it to dry. It’s also generally inexpensive and available at art or craft stores.

• Speedball water-soluble block printing inks. These are the first inks I used. They’re widely available in North America, inexpensive, and you have a ton of colours to choose from. 
• Schmincke Acqua linoprint ink. This is a good option as well. Pricier than the Speedball ink, but prints nicely for a water-based ink and they have an excellent colour range.

Paper

You’ll want to make sure you’re using the right kind of paper when you go to print your block print. The wrong kind of paper can lead to smeared prints, too much blotchiness and ink that doesn’t absorb properly.

• Strathmore 300 or 400 series. I’ve used both for printmaking and they will work well for beginners. The 400 series is a bit better quality, so if you have both as an option, I’d suggest opting for that higher series.
• Arnhem 1618 paper. Your local art store may carry this in large sheets. It’s an inexpensive yet solid choice for beginner and intermediate relief printmakers. You will need to cut it into smaller pieces before you print.

Brayer

A brayer is an ink roller. It comes in many different sizes and firmness. For beginners, I’d generally recommend a soft roller because I find it’s easier to apply ink evenly onto a block. Some people prefer a hard roller because they tend to prevent overapplying, or “squishing” your ink onto your block.

• Speedball soft brayer. These are fairly easy to get across North America and tend to be inexpensive. I have used mine over and over again and it still works great. Be warned that they can develop a stickiness. This doesn’t affect how it applies ink but can be a bit off-putting.
• Speedball hard brayer. Another option that’s generally available at art or craft stores. I prefer soft brayers, but others might like the harder surface when rolling ink. 

Baren

You’ve rolled ink onto your block and you’re ready to print it onto your paper. You just need something to press your paper and ensure you get an even application of ink. You’ll need a baren!

• Speedball baren. This allows you to press down and smoothly slide it across your paper. This is a nice, economical option.
• Even cheaper is a wooden spoon! You can use the back of the wooden spoon to press down on your paper. It’ll take a little longer than a baren, but is a good choice. Just don’t use one that you want to reuse later in your kitchen because once you get ink on it, it’ll be relegated as an art supply forever. Take it from someone who knows!