How to Make a Woodcut

Woodcuts are the result of carving an image onto a block of wood to print with ink onto a piece of paper or fabric. Woodcut images are carved in relief. That is, the portions of the image to be printed are left alone, while the other portions of the image are carved or gouged away. Woodcuts have been used in fine arts and to illustrate manuscripts since at least the Middle Ages, although woodcuts enjoyed the pinnacle of popularity as a fine art form during the Expressionist period at the beginning of the 20th century.

Things You'll Need

• Soft wood (such as pine) block
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Pencil
• X-acto knife with blade
• Wood carving tools
• Rag paper
• Printer's ink
• Ink roller
• Printing press

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Lay the block of wood on a flat surface.

   • 2

     Smooth the surface of the wood with the sandpaper, if necessary. Brush away any shavings or sawdust.

   • 3

     Draw the image on the surface of the wood with the pencil.

   • 4

     Cut away the image with the X-acto knife and the wood carving tools. Leave the outlines and details (the part to be printed) in relief, cutting away the other portions.

   • 5

     Clip the rag paper onto the roller inside the printing press.

   • 6

     Roll ink onto the surface of the wood with the roller.

   • 7

     Place the wood into the printing press.

   • 8

     Print the woodcut onto the paper.