OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
My Dad, Arthur J. Penn, is a visual artist currently focusing on printmaking. Today, I'm sharing a short video [1 min 15] that we made of him going through the printmaking process.
The printmaking process breaks down into:
- Collecting inspiration and ideas. In this example, Dad uses plants and objects from his Cotswold house and garden.
- Making sketches from real life or from photographs and deciding how the print will look. Perhaps equivalent to outlining.
- Cutting the lino block. It's difficult to go back after this point. Not something that is a problem for writers as we can always edit again!
- Rolling the ink onto the block and printing. Then letting the ink dry … and the print is done! I was holding my breath at this point since that inking and printing bit needs steady hands!
Arthur J. Penn's handmade prints are available for sale at his website, www.ArthurJPenn.com. You can also find An English Country House and Garden Fine Art adult coloring book we made together here on Amazon, and there's also a companion adult coloring notebook.
Watch the video below or here on YouTube:
If you have any comments or questions, please do leave them below! Thanks 🙂
View Comments (7)
Ooh, I remember doing lino printing in art at school. It was wonderful fun. Although my efforts were much more modest than your dad's. *cough*
I hope the colouring book is doing well.
Your dad's art is absolutely stunning, Joanna. I love 19th c. botanical prints and that's what they remind me of. My book cover was done by a lino block artist and I have much more appreciation for the process now. Just picked up the coloring book!
That is amazing, Joanna! Love that he's your dad. Wonderful talent seems to run in the family. Thank you for all you do for writers and your heart for inspiring others in the journey.
I've done lino cutting at work but I don't have the patience to kudos to anyone who does! I was wondering though, how long does it take him to cut a piece?
From my Dad: Depends on the size of the Lino block. The smallest might be two days, the largest, a month to six weeks.
Astonishingly beautiful - thanks for sharing this with us :)
This is fantastic. Lovely to see his process! :)