Wood vs Linoleum

My first exposure to relief printing was in my high school art classes. We were given small chunks of ancient, brittle linoleum and very dull wood cutting tools. It was a challenge to carve anything at all, I found great enjoyment in it. My first print was a collection of mushrooms, a block I still have (and although it's been damaged, I reprinted it not too long ago).

It wasn't until I started making prints more seriously that I realized this was not the easiest way to do it, nor was it the only relief printing method.

At University I studied the traditional Japanese woodblock print method of moku-hanga and ukiyo-e. The dull tools I had used for that first print were actually intended for this type of printing. It can contain great detail and many effects that are impossible to create with linoleum.

When I was out of University, I finally had the free time to make my own prints. I defaulted to what I had experience with, linoleum and a few old tools I had been gifted. The going was slow, and it didn't take long before I knew something had to change.

With free time, motivation, and access to a library, I painstakingly re-educated myself on print making. Generally, when it comes to art, I like to think there are no rules. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to stifle expression for conformity's comforts. That being said, reading up on techniques can provide incredible guidance in finding ways to improve your skills, provide inspiration, and (in my case) solve problems I didn't even know I had.

It is my hope that this post will help you skip some trial and error by sharing my experiences carving both wood and linoleum. So without further ado, let’s compare the two!

Linoleum:

Generally, linoleum is easier to carve. It doesn't have any texture to complicate cuts so you can dive right in with your gouges. It comes in different hardnesses, with battleship grey being the firmest, gold/yellow in the middle, and soft “speedy-carve” being the softest. With this ease of carving comes a trade off however, it's hard to get fine details on softer material.

Another characteristic that might make linoleum appealing to a beginner print artist is that it's cheap (compared to wood). But don't go and buy a huge roll just yet, large amounts can be hard to store properly. I bought a 25 yard roll, and now I can't get any of the pieces to lie flat for the life of me! So, if you plan on going this route anticipate having to mount it. Ideally, unmounted blocks should be stored flat with weight on top to keep them from curling. After some time, linoleum will dry out and become brittle, crumbing if you try to carve it.

All you need to carve linoleum is a piece and a carving tool. No pre-treatment necessary. You won't have to worry about sharpening tools, maybe just honing them once and a while.

Last thing of note, linoleum is not the most environmentally friendly, which is always a downside.

Wood:

Historically, woodblock printing is more traditional than linoleum. This is the method of famous printers such a Johannes Gutenberg and Aldrich Dürer.

Wood blocks are durable for long term use with proper preparation and treatment. However, wood is more difficult to carve.

With its hardness, it requires more force to make cuts, and you must also consider grain and potential for chipping (when in doubt, precut). This also means tools need to be sharpened more regularly.

It's generally a more involved, time consuming process to make a finished block. Sometimes, it requires treating the blocks with oils or varnish before or after the carving process (depending on how you will use the block). It's also common practice, albeit not necessary, to give blocks a wash with a color before carving. This will make what has or hasn't been carved more distinct (I personally just use a marker as I go).

Finally, it's way more environmentally friendly than linoleum! It can also be easily sourced, salvaged, and recycled.

Now, which is better? They certainly both have advantages and disadvantages. Let me know which you think is better! I may make a follow up post in a while to discuss things people bring up!