Lino Block Printing

To start lino and block printing you will need a carveable block, cutting tools, block printing ink, a brayer or roller and suitable paper. Our Lino & Block Printing collection brings these essentials together, including linoleum blocks, soft cut options, lino cutters and brayers. You can pair your kit with dedicated printmaking paper or sketchbooks and pads from Paper and Pads, and explore more specialized tools and inks in the broader Printmaking collection and Impressions Block Printing Ink collection at Art Noise.

For most linocut and relief projects we recommend water based block printing inks that roll out smoothly, stay open long enough on the plate and clean up easily with soap and water. In the Lino & Block Printing collection you will find Tri Art’s Impressions Block Printing Ink, which is made in Canada and designed for linoleum and wood blocks. You can also browse additional colour options and formats in our Printing Ink collection and Printmaking collection if you are expanding a studio setup.

Beginners often enjoy softer, easier to carve blocks that are gentle on the hands and more forgiving of small slips, while experienced printmakers may prefer traditional gray linoleum or mounted blocks that hold very fine detail. The Lino & Block Printing collection includes a mix of classic lino, mounted blocks and easy cut options so you can choose the surface that matches your skill level and style. If you want to explore more relief and screen tools as you grow, you can also look through our Printmaking collection and related supplies within Art Supplies tagged Printmaking.

Good block printing paper should be strong enough to handle repeated burnishing, but soft and absorbent enough to pick up ink evenly from your lino block. Many printmakers choose dedicated sheets and pads from our Printmaking Paper collection or experiment with heavier drawing and mixed media options in Paper and Pads. Once you have a paper you like, you can pair it with inks, brayers and tools from the Lino & Block Printing collection and expand into other relief and screen processes through the Printmaking collection.

Start by rolling out a thin, even layer of ink on a flat plate with a brayer, then roll that ink onto your carved lino block until the raised areas look evenly coated but not flooded. Place your chosen paper from Printmaking Paper or Paper and Pads over the block and apply firm, even pressure with a baren or clean spoon to transfer the image. The Lino & Block Printing collection includes the blocks, inks and brayers you need for this process, and you can find additional rollers, barens and accessories in our wider Printmaking collection and Art Supplies section.

Yes, many of the tools and inks in the Lino & Block Printing collection are well suited to home studios, community workshops and senior level classrooms, especially water based inks that clean up with soap and water. For younger students or group projects, teachers often combine simpler blocks and tools with surfaces from Paper and Pads and supportive drawing tools in Drawing Supplies. If you are building a broader teaching kit, you can also explore printmaking supplies within Art Supplies and classroom focused pages like Classroom Art Supplies.

After printing, wipe excess ink off your lino blocks, brayers and tools promptly with a soft cloth and mild soap and water, then dry everything thoroughly to prevent rust or damage. Store carved blocks from the Lino & Block Printing collection flat and out of direct heat so the surface does not warp, and protect sharp tools from being knocked around in drawers. For related mark making tools that may share your printmaking space, you can also explore storage friendly options in our Drawing Supplies collection and keep inks organized with trays and containers from Art Supplies.

If you are looking to deepen your lino and block printing skills, you can start by exploring the full Lino & Block Printing collection and browsing additional tools, inks and screens in our Printmaking collection and Impressions Block Printing Ink collection. For broader studio setups, visit Art Supplies tagged Printmaking and surfaces in Printmaking Paper. You can also check the Art Classes Kingston page to see if there are any printmaking or mixed media classes running at Art Noise in downtown Kingston.