Last year around Christmas time, some of the people in the studio at work decided that it would be fun to make our own linocut Christmas cards. I participated, because I hadn’t made a linocut since high-school and I thought it would be fun.

Well, it was fun! And I, like some of my work-mates, got the linocut bug. I was so excited, I wanted to make more linocuts… bigger linocuts… I am SO going to do this!

I went to my local Curry’s artists supply store and bought several pieces of lino material, a table brace, so I don’t gouge the crap out of my left hand, some print paper, a roller, more gouges and some inks. Well, all of these things sat around collecting dust in my office for the better part of 9 months! Then I started cutting my first “real” artistic block.

I agonized over what I wanted to do, then I decided to get off the pot, and make a design inspired by tattoo design. I very aptly chose the theme of “Tempus Fugit”, which is Latin for “Time Flies”. As I get older, this is a theme that constantly seems to resurface. Time really does fly… anyway, I digress. I put my tools to work, and little by little started carving out my piece of lino material.

The carving was done over the course of a month, then I was ready to print.

The prints weren’t terrific, so I chalked it up to a “test run”.

After printing, I can see where I made my errors in carving, and I vow to do better next time.

Since I’m never one to do things in moderation, I have plenty of supplies left to take another stab at this linocut thing.
Maybe in another 9 months…