Original Block Prints

John pulling a block print.

BLOCK PRINTING

Relief prints are made from blocks where the white parts of the design are hand carved away, leaving a plateau to receive the ink—which is then transferred to paper. The block is rolled in black or color ink, and then transferred to paper by pressure.

The process may involve a series of overlapping prints, each hand pressed and lined up to create a specific effect.

With the overuse of the traditional carving boxwood, many “woodcut” artists turned to linoleum blocks, or Lino Cuts by the early 1900’s. The important factor is to achieve an edition of prints, and the desired carved effect, regardless of medium.

Right: John Severson pulling a print from “South Seas.”

Below (left to right):
– A carved block from “Power Drive.”
– The final block, Power Drive — printed using two blocks. Everything reversed.
– New Wave, printed in three colors on white paper.
– Far right, “The Surfer” — John’s first block print — Done in 1958 in Haleiwa, Hawaii.

The process involves a lot of handwork and detail, and is open to a great variety in color and printing.