Paper Block Printing - Holiday Cards

With Lucy Holtsnider

Please bring a simple, high-contrast 4" x 6" (or smaller) image to work from.

Create one-of-a-kind holiday cards that are 100% handmade by you! This special holiday workshop introduces the magic of reductive printmaking, a technique where you progressively carve a single linoleum block to create a two-color design. You’ll learn a new skill and leave with ten beautiful handmade cards! No drawing or printmaking experience required. Join this supportive beginner-friendly workshop, discover a new creative art, and connect with a community of fellow makers!

What You’ll Make & Take Home:

• You'll create 10 custom, two-color holiday cards.

• You'll also take home the materials to make more of your prints, including an instruction and materials sheet, 10 5x7" cards, 10 envelopes, one 4x6" block of linoleum, and ink

Skills & Concepts You’ll Learn:

• Designing a holiday-themed image for the reductive process

• Transferring your design onto a linoleum block

• Safe and effective linocut carving techniques

• Learning the reductive method: carving and printing in two stages

• Properly inking the block and hand-printing onto cards

• Aligning your paper for a clean, consistent edition of prints

Equipment & Tools You’ll Learn:

• Linocut carving tools, linoleum blocks, block printing ink, brayers (ink rollers), and blank cards.

Class Outline:

1. Design & Transfer: Introduction to reductive printmaking, adapting your holiday design, and transferring it to the block.

2. First Layer: Carving the areas for your first color, mixing ink, and printing the first layer onto your cards.

3. Second Layer: Further carving the same block for the second color, then printing over your first layer to complete the image.

4. Wrap-Up: Review, tips for drying your cards, and Q&A about printing more at home.

Other Class Details:

• Prerequisites: None. No Experience Required.

• Class Capacity: 7 maximum, 3 minimum

• Materials Provided?: Bring a 4 x 6" image of what you'd like to print.

• Age Limit: 13+. Guardian required if under 18 (info)

• Partner Ticket Available?: Yes

• Available for a Private Class?: Yes (info)

• Clothing/Equipment Requirements?: Be prepared to get a little dirty.