A brayer is used to spread ink on the linoleum engraving for printing.
Linoleum engraving, or block printing, is a longstanding artistic method dating back to the early 1900s. An artist engraves a layer of linoleum mounted on a wooden block using special carving tools. The carved image is then inked and pressed onto paper to create the engraving. All the areas and lines of the linoleum not removed by the artist produce the lines of the resulting image. Artists such as Kandinsky, Matisse and Picasso have used this method in their work.
Instructions
1. Trace an outline of a linoleum block on a sheet of tracing paper. Draw or transfer a design within the boundaries of the outline. Darken the lines of the drawing or design heavily with a soft art pencil.
2. Place the tracing paper face down on the linoleum side of the block and secure it with masking tape. Make sure to line up the outline of the block that you traced in the previous step with the block's edges.
3. Rub the design from the paper onto the linoleum block. Use a coin or back of a spoon and concentrate on rubbing each darkened area of the design. Once you are satisfied the entire design has been transferred to the block, remove the masking tape and tracing paper. If you like you can darken the transferred lines after removing the paper.
4. Hold the linoleum block in one hand or clamp it to a workbench. Use the engraving tools to cut away all the linoleum that does not have pencil markings. Remember that whatever you cut away will be blank on the finished print. Anything that is not cut away will be colored. Use appropriately sized cutting tips from engraving tool set for the size of the area you are cutting.
5. Brush away all the cut particles as you work. When you are finished, rinse the block under water to remove all tiny pieces of cut linoleum and pencil markings and pat dry. Make absolutely sure you are finished engraving before washing away the pencil marks.
6. Squeeze a small amount of block printing ink onto a paper plate and roll a brayer in it to coat. Roll the brayer onto the dry linoleum in a thin, even coat. Place a sheet of art paper on a flat surface and press the inked linoleum block onto it with firm, even pressure.
7. Remove the linoleum block from the paper and inspect the image. If there are areas of ink that you do not want in the final image, remove those areas from the linoleum with the engraving tools. Test print the block again and remove any more unwanted inked areas until you are satisfied with your design.
