Red Octopus
Linocut Print
4×6″
2/10
As many of you know, I have been playing with some printmaking, including linocut prints. Red Octopus is an edition of 10 prints.
This particular linocut was done using the reduction method, made famous by Picasso. The process is similar to poured watercolors, where you save the certain colors by cutting that color away. For instance in the above print, I first cut away what would be the white of the paper on a linoleum block. I then inked the block with red and some yellow to get the orangey red that you see of the octopus. Then I placed printmaking paper on top of my block and hand pulled the image. After I made several images, I cut away where the red of the octopus would be, leaving the linoleum that would be inked black. Finally I lined up the inked block (just black this time) with the images I had already pulled and got my prints.
Here is the image signed and numbered:
looks really good :) I love how the method is also called the suicide method since it can often drive people insane :p maybe not the most tactful name, but does describe the process pretty well sometimes :p
Martine Alison,
Je vous remercie! Vous êtes toujours si gentil.
Jennifer, I had not heard it called that before but it does fit! Since it is similar to the poured watercolors, I might start calling my pours the suicide method as well. It can feel that way at times.