The Hug (2023) Linocut print from a limited edition of 10

Artwork description:

The Hug was a challenge, can I do a portrait using a reduction Linocut? This beautiful, caring image was a candid family moment captured on camera, I decided to try and create a Lino cut portrait.

I used water based matte inks, which really lend themselves to the more gentle skin tones I needed to create, they also create texture when used with the thick Italian printing paper.

This is a reduction Lino cut print. A reduction linocut is a totally hand made print. No machines are used. Only one piece of Lino is used throughout the process and so no prints can be reproduced.

I draw the image I want to create on the Lino, in reverse. Using carving tools I take away all the lightest parts which will be the colour of the the paper, I then ink up the Lino with a colour and press this onto some thick printing paper. Anything I want to be that colour I carve away and ink up the next colour and so the process goes until the image appears.

This print went through this process around 18 times, to achieve the final image. I used water based inks and the paper is Italian Fabriano Rosapina.

The printed area is approximately 30.5cm by 40.5 and the paper size is approximately 34.5 by 49.5 cm.

Please note, outside the U.K. and USA local customs/duty charges may be incurred. These are the responsibility of the customer and outside my control.

The room images are computer generated and so not to scale.

Materials used:

inks, paper, cutting tools, Lino, press