Mungo McCosh
When making a Lino-cut print Mungo first draws a design based on his own sketches.
Once he is happy with this, and having allowed for the technical limitations of the process chosen ( see below ) this drawing is traced onto translucent paper to allow the image to be reversed.
The design is then copied onto to the face of a piece of linoleum using graphite transfer paper under the translucent layer.
Once the design is on the plate Mungo paints in gouache those areas of be removed and then cuts away this material from the plate using tools which are in effect mini gouges and chisels. Different tools create different cuts which print as different marks.
As cutting progresses he takes trial impressions of the print as a mistake is impossible to rectify once an area of Lino has been removed.
Impressions are taken by rolling printing ink onto a glass plate until it reaches required viscosity and then rolling the ink onto the surface of the Lino. Fine paper is placed over the inked surface and pressure applied using an antique cast-iron press and, for particularly detailed areas, the edge of an ivory or bone folder. An area cut away will not print (as with a child's potato print) as it is not in contact with the roller.
Several impressions of the developing print may be taken before Mungo is satisfied that the cutting of a print is finished. This process is typically completed in a few days for a single colour print but can take several weeks for a complex multi-coloured print
Multi-coloured prints can be created by using more than one block. Areas already printed with one colour being overprinted with another colour leading to secondary
Impressions of all priced prints on this website are available to buy
