Carve and Print (2023)
TAFE Assignment
Banksia illustration on lino
Deliverables: A print made from a carving process and mocked up on merch
Tools: hands (illustration; carving; printing), Adobe Photoshop
Created for a TAFE assignment, this project involved designing a mono-coloured illustration based on organic plant or animal life, then transferring the design to a stencil medium for printing.
Inspired by Australian flora, I chose the banksia as my subject and created a digital illustration using a reference image from Adobe Stock where I focused on shape and texture.
Adobe Stock image
My digital illustration
I then transferred the design onto a lino block and began carving. I approached the process with a sense of exploration, knowing that carving-especially circular elements-can be challenging. This proved true, and I adjusted the design by enlarging the circles and increasing the white space to better accommodate the tools.
Transferred illustration onto lino sheet
Half carved lino. I tested the depth of the marks throughout this process
Finished carving
First print
Once carved, I refined the design in Photoshop, testing small changes for balance, such as trimming part of a leaf. In the end, I found the original version had the most character.
This hands-on project was fun and creatively rewarding, and I’m excited to explore more traditional printmaking techniques in the future.
