My reduction linoprint is nearing completion with the 4th colour added.

The print is of a boat called the ‘Three Sisters’ pulled up on the shingle at Dungeness with the sea glinting in the background. The print is based on a painting that I did of the same boat in mixed media and acrylic but now simplified in photoshop for an image more suited to linoprint.

Linoprint is a very physical activity compared to the rest of the artwork I do. Each print is hand pulled which means I ink up the lino then place the paper over the lino and burnish the paper with a brayer and a metal spoon until the ink has transferred to the paper. It’s very hard work but great fun and you get a workout at the same time.

Lining up all the colours in the reduction print is demanding but I use a special jig which holds the lino and another jig which marks where the paper has to be placed each time. It works well most of the time.

A cheap print hanger is made from an Ikea clothes drier, some string and some wooden pegs. The whole thing cost about £4 so I have an easy way to keep wet prints safe while they dry.

I used Lawrence Linseed Oil Relief Printing ink on Somerset paper for this print. Cleaning up with ‘Zest it’ cleaner is odour free and easy.

Recently I invested in some new inks which are oil based but washable called ‘Caligo safe wash relief inks’. I’m looking forward to using them soon.