Tutorial: How to Carve a Linocut

today i'd like to share with you how to carve a linocut, from tools to safety. i hope you find it helpful and if you have any questions, please leave them below and i'll do my best to answer
this tutorial is part of a series, which i share with my patrons. if you'd like to
support me on patreon and get access to exclusive vlogs, tutorials, early access to new print releases, live streams and more, follow this link to learn more:
PATREON:
www.patreon.com/emilunderbjer...
online shop where you can find all my linocut prints for sale:
www.emilunderbjerg.dk/shop
follow me on social media,
instagram:
/ emil.underbjerg
facebook:
/ emil.underbjerg
tools and materials i use:
pfeil carving tools
large V shape B15/6
small V shape L11/3
medium U shape L12/1
large U shape L8/7
i print all my prints with cranfield safewash relief inks on japanese kozo paper.
the linoleum is made by forbo/best and i buy it by the meter from aartdevos.dk

[@blackoakmushrooms]

quick tip as a knifemaker.........get yourself a polishing wheel and some compound. That'll keep your tools shaving sharp with a mirror finish and will be remarkably fast. Love your work, I've been getting back to printing lately and I'm loving the process

[@emilunderbjerg]

Thanks for the tip!

[@alansm136]

Please do a demo for us 🙏

[@brandtwoods]

This was extremely helpful! I've been wanting to try this for a while and this is exactly what I was looking for.

[@emilunderbjerg]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1califragilistic]

Thank you for the lovely tutorial. Your careful commentary was so helpful and generous. Beautiful and inspiring work!

[@emilunderbjerg]

Thank you so much!

[@anncorsaro224]

What a great and informative video. Thank you for your focus on safety and the importance of breaks and stretching. You do beautiful work.👍👏

[@bjworksit1174]

Very good safety tips! Thanks for sharing your talent!

[@evanoresaintvondrak4908]

It's such a good introduction to linocut that it's very similar to what I know about woodcut. And your sharpening explanation it's the most simple and direct I ever saw. Thank you for the video!

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you so much, I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@natashaapril8693]

Thank you so much for sharing this excellent video here. It's greatly appreciated and your work is truly beautiful and inspiring! 👌👏❤

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you so much! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@susancmorgan2668]

Thankyou Emil. It is a joy to see your work and this video was very helpful indeed.

[@katwoman2371]

I really enjoy your videos thank you for making them, I've just started with linocut again after many years, your videos remind of how calming it can be :)

[@emilunderbjerg]

thats great to hear, have fun making prints!

[@beccaturner8834]

This is wonderful, thank you ☺️

[@joannasaninska7012]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. It was really informative and also so satisfying to watch.

[@Simon-bh3hx]

Great tutorial and tips : thank you for sharing your knowledge !

[@emilunderbjerg]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheKitt69]

Thanks so much for sharing Emil!

[@emilunderbjerg]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@Cchouette]

Hello Emil, I admire your work and your style. For me, you are by far the best Linoleum engraver on KZbin 🏆 If I may, in the description bar of the video, you made a small mistake regarding the Pfeil tool L 11/3 and 15/6 ... the shape is a U and not a V 🤔 Innocuous but very useful question before purchase: Why do you prefer/recommend the L 11/3 instead of the L 11/0.5 ? Same, Why do you prefer/recommend L 8/7 instead of L 8/3 ? Thanks from FRANCE 🇫🇷🙂

[@ziggystardust1170]

So inspiring, thank you!

[@emilunderbjerg]

im glad you liked it!

[@ginaburgess9759]

So much useful information. Thank you.

[@emilunderbjerg]

im glad you found it helpful!

[@skmcc9252]

Thanks for this video, it is an excellent introduction to linocut generally. The best I've come across so far.

[@emilunderbjerg]

im glad you liked it!

[@ksea6565]

Thank you so much, you gave such helpful information. I will be buying my supplies this week to start lino printing and i am so excited. I have wanted to do this for years. I love your videos and you do the MOST amazing work ❤

[@emilunderbjerg]

i am glad you found it helpful, good luck with it!

[@wizzymel]

Brilliant video. Thank you !

[@emilunderbjerg]

glad you like it!

[@meltdowngrfx969]

Thanks for the video. I’m amazed by your skill with that large V shaped tool 👍

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you very much!

[@raqueltejedoralonso3152]

Thanks a lot! Very helpful and well explained :)

[@hgr251]

Great video, thank you

[@inesamaro2811]

Thank you ! Great tutorial!! 💛

[@emilunderbjerg]

Glad it was helpful!

[@urkoarrdo5855]

I love your channel. Thank u!!

[@emilunderbjerg]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jeanbailey1045]

Excellent video, as always, thank you Emil.

[@emilunderbjerg]

i am glad you liked it!

[@corneliaklinger7641]

Thanks for the deep-dive!

[@emilunderbjerg]

im glad you liked it!

[@KathyBrooksArt]

Wow, that was a wonderful tutorial. Thank you

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you, im glad you liked it!

[@larahetherington9910]

hi, thanks so much for this! I am super into Lino at the moment, but was never actually taught how to do it so this is amazing x

[@emilunderbjerg]

i am glad you found it helpful!

[@taramtamtam8626]

Such a helpful video! Thank you so much ❤

[@emilunderbjerg]

im glad you liked it!

[@taramtamtam8626]

@@emilunderbjerg really liked it! I also became a patron ✨

[@radharcanna]

Thank you Emil. That was an extremely useful tutorial. As with all your videos, this one looks great too.

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you so much, im glad it was helpful to you!

[@Cidiuss]

Hi Emil, amazing video. Got me back into linocut actually. There is one thing though: I believe that symbols for two chisels got swapped with eatch other. L11 is U-shaped (and 3mm wide here) and anything above 12 profile is a V-shape. Besides that - great primer for everyone wishing to begin printmaking or refreshing a little bit, aka me.

[@emilunderbjerg]

glad you liked the video! do you mean in the description or was it something i said in the video?

[@kacperkozbia4185]

Great tutorial, keep up the good work :)

[@EverleyStPeter-pw8ni]

Great tutorial thanks!

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you!

[@kaleeddy5227]

The most important lesson I took away from your video is to not let the mistakes ruin your work. 10:08 Half the reason I enjoy linocut are the "flaws" that make it feel handmade.

[@patricknorton5788]

Wonderful video. I am fairly experienced with linocut, and I have to say one of the best discoveries I have made is the Slipstrop tool. With it and some fine sandpaper (500 to 2,000 grit), I am able to not only keep my Pfiell tool (just one, an #12) but also my Flexcut tools sharp. And, after some more rigorous sharpening, I can hone and maintain my Speedball cutters too. I love the profiles of the Speedball tools, but they come from the factory like a butter knife manufacturer tried to make razor blades and never noticed the difference. The Pfiell tools are really the best, but I only recommend the finer ones. The wider cuts can be covered very well by the Flexcut brand (really very good and significantly less expensive) and wider than that I would recommend the Speedball tools when sharpened properly. The high-quality tools go super shallow angle for the wider cuts, and a slightly deeper cut results in a much wider relieved area and vice versa, like the tide running a hundred meters up a low-angle beach for a few centimeters of increase. The same goes for an E.C. Lyons tool. The narrow one is basically a narrower wide tool - if I could control the cutting tool that well, I would only need one size (not to mention the ink rolling over into the shallow cut). Wider tools still need steeper shoulders, so that is why I love the wider Speedball tools (once properly sharpened).

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you for your insightful comment, sorry i have been so slow to reply… i have really only used pfeil tools, and some cheap off brand ones back in the day. i see a lot of fellow printmakers using the flex cut tools, but they're not available around here where i live so i haven't had a chance to try them myself.

[@emmamariamakes]

@@emilunderbjerg I think the description, small V shape L11/3 medium U shape L12/1 = U shape L11/3 and V shape L12/1

[@IrisYoungPrintmaker]

Thanks a lot for sharing the knowledge and experience. It is really difficult to find linocut classes in my city 😂

[@robertsymes5240]

Great thank you

[@zuzanafricova8586]

thank you for sharing

[@emilunderbjerg]

😊😊

[@pitoufinos]

Thanks for sharing

[@emilunderbjerg]

Thanks for watching!

[@Emily-wb6so]

Thank you so much.

[@emilunderbjerg]

you're welcome :)

[@KokkART]

Thank you very much

[@emilunderbjerg]

😊

[@littlemissevel3607]

I did lino cutting both in school and college. None of us had bench hooks. The amount of times i came close to badly stabbing myself was preeetttyy high. I've not used one yet but they have always seemed like a reeeaallly good idea to me. 😅

[@emilunderbjerg]

definitely one of the most useful tools when working on a smaller linocut!

[@davidlaws8506]

Thanks!

[@emilunderbjerg]

hey! sorry i didnt see this before now, thank you so much for your superthanks!

[@juanbjuan9862]

Greetings Emil. Thanks for these videos. Can you please tell me what is this "compound" you apply on the profiles that fits the tools? many thanks!

[@Steven-cu5ds]

Great video, i love your work!

[@emilunderbjerg]

thank you Steven!

[@emmamariamakes]

Great video! Do you need to start honing the tools with the slipstrop right away or can you use the Pfeil tools for a few weeks or so before buying a slipstrop?

[@emilunderbjerg]

i used my pfeil tools for a long time before i got a slipstrop, you don't have to worry about it in the beginning 🌿

[@sokkoart]

thanks for such an informative video, which I find a little confusing is the difference between the small v gouge and the large one. (aside from how deep you can cut, can't you do the exact same thing with both?)

[@emilunderbjerg]

I'm glad you liked it! there's not much difference as all between the two, it is mostly about how deep you can cut with them, and subsequently how wide as well. a deeper cut is also wider, so the large one has more range

[@ravenhendershott1058]

I remember first learning how to linocut. Our project was a 5" x 7" and I stabbed myself many times the first week. I had to learn to keep my fingers well away from those blades. Thankfully, they only took 2 or so days to seal up.

[@vivianalarrondo532]

Hello! I loved your video. What do you mean by a "compound"?? What is it made of?

[@emilunderbjerg]

i dont know what it's made of, but it comes with the slipstrop :)

[@romelmadrayart]

Thanks for this. I was wondering something. I have the hard lino type, grey board and when I cut the lino comes out clunky. I have had this lino for a while but I remembered when I initially got it and cut my cuts were alot sharper. Would you have any idea what may have cause this? I sharpen my tools regularly, so they are pretty sharp but I live in a hot high humidity country. Any recommnedations on a possible remedy? Putting the lino in the freezer?

[@emilunderbjerg]

thats tricky to answer. i think lino can harden and start to crumble over time but im not sure. my usual recommendation is to heat up the lino, not cool it down, but maybe it would work if you tried to cool it? other than that i am not sure i can help you

[@zlanaya]

could you also please share the brand of the honing tools and compound you are using? thanks,

[@emilunderbjerg]

the honing tool and compound is by Flexcut and is called a Slipstrop

[@francescomassella2872]

Hi, congratulations, you're very good. A question, but where do you buy linomeum? how do you buy per square metre?:)

[@zlanaya]

hi, what is the carving-wood gauges you use?

[@emilunderbjerg]

i use pfeil carving tools :)

[@jacpace7611]

So the carving is used for paint prints?? I've never seen this before and am curious.

[@emilunderbjerg]

yes, the carved piece is used to make prints on paper. you could also do it with wood for example

[@ellenfrazer7581]

🌞🌞🌞

[@davidlaws8506]

I've beeb viewing for a while...very informative. How do I become a supporter...?😅 m

[@danielsainzzavala9344]

Maybe stupid question here, but is there a reason to do this manually? why not using something like an X-Carve, 3D printing or even just like a Dremel? Like for someone doing this just as a hobby for the pleasure of doing it maybe it wouldn't make much sense but if you do this for a living then it would save you lots of time (specially with bigger prints)

[@danielsainzzavala9344]

My question is coming from a perspective of a guy that has never done this and just discovered your channel. I enjoy your content very much and I get that maybe you like the process as much as the result, but just wondering if there's a reason other than that to not optimize the process as much as possible

[@harinwh2860]

@@danielsainzzavala9344 Hi I'm new to linocuts/printing so I do fall into the hobby category but thought I'd share my perspective. I've tried both ways and the physical process is way more satisfying and you feel more control over the piece (depth of cuts, the amount of noise you have around it, less clean art styles etc). On top of that, the directions of the cuts sometimes show up on the final piece and add interesting textures that would be harder to achieve with a laser printer.

[@emilunderbjerg]

For me, the physical act of carving the lino is as much a part of it as the final print. my drawing process is entirely digital so for my own sake i like to carve it manually, otherwise i feel too disconnected to the final print. on top of that, i think the manual approach makes the carving look more alive, you can't always control all the cuts, sometimes you make mistakes, and you can't really replicate that if you did it with a machine. i think the imperfections is what makes the piece feel alive.

[@emilunderbjerg]

thanks for pitching in, you have some good points - it's as much about the cuts themselves as what is left behind

[@Fenristripplex]

Why not use pneumatic carving tools?

[@ripe_avocados]

I don’t see any videos on your patreon.

[@emilunderbjerg]

no, i've closed my patreon page ☀️

[@alansm136]

Emil I want to join your patreon but I see it charges the full amount even though it's the middle of June 2023. Can you advise if this is the case please?

[@emilunderbjerg]

hi, yes that is the case. however, you will not be charged again until the 18th of July, and on the 18th of each following month after that. thanks for your support!

[@alansm136]

@@emilunderbjerg ok thanks for clearing that up because it said it was going to charge from the 1st of the month again😀

[@emilunderbjerg]

oh, maybe I'm wrong then? sorry, let me look into it

[@emilunderbjerg]

so i just looked into it, and it seems like i had forgotten to press a certain button, but that should be in order now. so, you'll be charged as i described in my original answer. sorry for the confusion!

[@jocelinjohnston3091]

𝓟Ř𝔬𝓂𝔬𝐒ϻ 💖

[@nerllybird]

Ohhhh....Pfail! I've googled them before now and I still thought people were saying file 😂

[@emilunderbjerg]

haha, yeah that's a tricky one!