Syllabus and Materials List: Block Printing for the Home
Block Printing for Home
PCC Continuing Education
Instructor Joyce Campbell
Day Wednesday
Time 5:00 pm – 6:50 pm
Course Description
Explore simple block printing. Learn about acquiring the right tools and materials to begin carving at home along with learning to design the right image, transfer it to the block, carve, and stamp it. Students can fashion their own greeting cards, printed linens, patterned clothes, and much more.
Required Materials – ** Bring to every class starting week 2 **
- Carving tools
- Approximately $8-$25+
- A basic tool is available to borrow during class if needed
- Carving blocks
- Approximately $15-$20 depending on sizes purchased
- Recommended:
- (2-3) 2″ ? & ? (2-3) 4″ x 6″
- Or 1 large block to cut into pieces as needed
- easy carve blocks are recommended to start but, traditional lino blocks are acceptable
- Materials to print on
- Cost varies
- ?Recommended
- Paper (scrap and/or nice)
- clothing items (new or used)
- linens (new or used)
- Stationary (greeting cards, poster paper, business cards, etc)
- Stamp Pads
- Approximately $4-$6
- minimum 1 color
Additional Materials:
- Sketch pad and pencils
- Permanent Markers
- Tape
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Brayers and Block printing ink (optional)
Where to shop locally for supplies:
- Blick Art
- Columbia Art supply
- Artist and Craftsman Supply
- I’ve been Framed
- Collage (great stamp pad selection w/ limited printing supplies)
- Michaels(very limited selections but has a few “kit” options)
- Scrap PDX(great spot for paper and items to print on to)
Safety
- Use Safe Cutting Techniques: Always cut away from the body and keep fingers away from the path of the blade.
- Keep all workspace tidy and organized. Ensure that tools are placed in a safe and accessible manner and that the working area is clear of unnecessary items.
Inclusion
It is expected that students will act as mature members of a progressive and accepting community and understand that under no circumstances will exclusionary speech and behavior be tolerated.?
Please feel free to approach the instructor with any concerns.
Course Schedule
Week 1 (no materials needed week 1)
- Introductions
- Name
- Pronouns
- What brings you to the class?
- Syllabus Review
- The What’s, Why’s, and How’s of Home Block Printing
- tools, materials, and things to think about
- A simple start to at-home printing
- no materials are necessary week 1
Week 2
- Designs: What Works and What Doesn’t (slideshow link)
- Preparing the Block
- Transferring an Image to the block
- More Carving Techniques
- Project 1
- Carving practice on a small block with a simple image
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper
Week 3
- Designing: More tips (slideshow link)
- Tips for printing stationery/greeting cards
- Project 2
- Creating a whole image on a medium block – Challenge: try to use 3 different patterns/textures
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper, ?greeting card blanks, nice paper, roll of blank paper to make gift wrap
Week 4
- Using Ink and a Brayer
- Limited ink and 3 brayers will be provided to use during class. ?Feel free to bring your own!
- Project 2 (continued)
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper, ?greeting card blanks, nice paper, roll of blank paper to make gift wrap
Week 5
- Repeating, Interlocking, and Seamless Patterns (slideshow link)
- Project 3
- Creating decorative patterns on a small block – Challenge: Print a full page of your pattern
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper and fabric items like blank gift wrap, fabric or fabric items, tote bags, linens or clothing
Week 6
- Project 3 (continued)
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper and fabric items like blank gift wrap, fabric or fabric items, tote bags, linens or clothing
Week 7
- Multi-Color Printing: Layering Colors, Reduction Prints and/or Sectioned Color Prints (slideshow link)
- Project 4
- Creating a colorful image on a medium or large block – Challenge: Create an Image that incorporates 3 colors
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper, ?greeting card blanks, nice paper, roll of blank paper to make gift wrap, fabric or fabric items, tote bags, linens or clothing
Week 8
- Project 4 (continued)
- Suggested printable to bring: scrap paper, ?greeting card blanks, nice paper, roll of blank paper to make gift wrap, fabric or fabric items, tote bags, linens or clothing
Related Links:
Choosing a design
https://www.eazels.com/a-guide-to-positive-and-negative-space-in-linocut
https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=linocut%20pattern
Carving tips
https://handprinted.co.uk/blogs/blog/using-different-tools-to-make-marks-on-lino
www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2023/05/24/linocut-carving-techniques-for-beginners/
https://www.eazels.com/the-impact-of-color-texture-and-shape-in-linocut-prints
Printing How to’s
https://www.instructables.com/Making-a-Linocut-Print-From-Start-to-Finish/
https://www.springfieldart.net/wp-content/uploads/Step-by-Step-Lino-Cut.pdf
Repeat Patterns
https://patternanddesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Surface-Pattern-Repeat-PDF-compressed.pdf
https://handprinted.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-to-design-and-print-a-straight-repeating-pattern-1
https://naturalfabricdyeing.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-advanced-pdf/1/5387.pdf
https://blog.spoonflower.com/2018/01/29/how-to-create-a-seamless-repeat-from-a-drawing/
Multi Color Printing
http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/wp-content/uploads/CPS-Freemium-BlockPrinting_v2.pdf
https://www.boardingallrows.com/lino-printing-artist-techniques
https://www.penrosepress.ca/blogs/nerd-time/reduction-linocuts
https://www.penrosepress.ca/blogs/nerd-time/reduction-linocuts
https://www.michellehughesdesign.com/post/how-to-make-linocut-prints-with-two-colours-or-more
Fabric
https://stampedwithlovexoxo.com/blogs/love-letters/stamping-on-fabric?srsltid=AfmBOoqLJUfp6crsDs3s2bxS_yTaFEV1E_kA8M1ZtzMHWpUi1SCM1Pl6