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The Reduction Process Diane Castle Babcock, Linoleum Block Print Artist
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| The reduction process is a multiple color printing technique using only one piece of linoleum. This method was developed by Pablo Picasso; he nicknamed it the "suicide method" because the block is destroyed as the print is created. For this reason, it is important to plan the image carefully before beginning to print. When I make a print, I always begin with a drawing which I refer to throughout the process. |
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The first step involves cutting away the white areas of the image. Linoleum printing is essentially a form of stamp printing, so whatever is cut out of the block will not be inked. The cutting tools are V-shaped and U-shaped gouges. I use battleship linoleum, which is a special kind of linoleum produced now as an art material. |
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| After the white areas are cut out, I print the first color on all the paper. This series of prints from one block is called an edition. I must decide how many prints there are going to be when I print the first color, because I will not be able to go back and make more after this point. I roll ink on the raised surface with a tool called a brayer. |
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| I hand press the ink onto the paper with a tool called a barren. The barren pictured is made from bamboo and comes from Japan. The paper I use also is made in Japan. the technique I am using is very similar to wood block printing which is a traditional Japanese art form. |
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| After I print
the first color, I then cut out the parts of the block that I want to remain
that color. For example, if I printed dark brown first, I would cut out the
tree trunks, soil, and rocks. I generally work from the foreground to the
background, because that makes the cutting easiest.
I repeat this process of printing a color and then cutting away what stays that color until the print is completed. Most prints are four or five colors and the edition size ranges from ten to sixty. I always try to print a few extra papers to allow for errors in registration. Registration is the process of lining up the block with the colors which are already on the paper. The blocks range in size from 3" x 5" to 20" by 30". To see examples of finished prints, please visit the gallery. From there, you may order a print for your own collection. You may also see my work at art shows listed on the show schedule page. I also conduct printmaking workshops for adults and children. Please see the workshop page for further information.
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