“Charcuterie” is a series of six 9” x 12” prints created using the reductive or elimination method of linocut.  This piece uses more colors (twelve!) than any other reductive print I’ve made. It pushes the limits!

The reductive method of linocut involves a number of color overprints made from a single piece of linoleum, with more of the linoleum being cut away for each overprinted color. 

On this piece, the first parts carved out of the linoleum were what remains white on the print, and a light yellow, green, and red was inked over portions of the linoleum.  Then the piece was run through the press, transferring the ink to paper.  Then the portions that remain light yellow, green, and red on the print (the lighter shadows) were carved away and darker yellow, green, and red tones were applied over the linoleum. Then the paper was again run through the press, transferring the ink onto the paper.  The print was run through the press with different color inks approximately five times.  

By the end of the reductive process, the linoleum is almost entirely carved away and no additional prints can be made. 

After the print was dry, the artist “laid” some tile using a rubber block and water-based ink.