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home·artworks·God's Man
God's Man by Lynd Ward

plate no. 0082

God's Man

Lynd Ward, 1929

oilExpressionismillustrationfigurebuildingssmoketreeappleindustrial
some experience helpful

Recreating this image will help students understand linocut techniques and how to create depth and texture using only black and white. It also teaches how to use line direction to create form and movement.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Create a preliminary sketch of the composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, buildings, tree, and smoke.

  2. step 02

    Transfer the sketch onto a linoleum block or thick paper.

  3. step 03

    Begin carving out the white areas, starting with the larger shapes and then moving to the finer details.

  4. step 04

    Use different carving tools to create varying line weights and textures.

  5. step 05

    Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to create a sense of form and movement.

  6. step 06

    Proof the block or paper by inking it and printing it onto paper.

  7. step 07

    Make any necessary adjustments to the carving based on the proof.

  8. step 08

    Create a final print of the image.

color palette

primary · black

secondary · white

This image is entirely black and white, so there is no color mixing involved.

techniques

  • ·Linocut carving
  • ·Hatching and cross-hatching
  • ·Line direction
  • ·Creating contrast
  • ·Negative space

common pitfalls

  • →Carving too deeply or not deeply enough
  • →Not planning the composition carefully enough
  • →Creating lines that are too uniform
  • →Not proofing the block or paper regularly

materials

surface · Linoleum block or thick paper

required

  • ·Linoleum block or thick paper
  • ·Carving tools
  • ·Ink (black)
  • ·Brayer
  • ·Paper for printing
  • ·Pencil
  • ·Tracing paper

optional

  • ·Proofing paper
  • ·Bench hook

Use a soft linoleum block for easier carving. Consider using a thick paper if you are replicating the image with pen and ink.

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