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Block Print Magic: The Essential Guide to Designing, Carving, and Taking Your Artwork Further with Relief Printing
Block Print Magic is an essential guide to the techniques of linoleum block printing, including 17 captivating step-by-step projects and the works and insights of talented printmakers for inspiration and visual demonstration.
Block Print Magic is the perfect reference for a wide range of printmaking enthusiasts. The easy-to-follow illustrated instruction takes you through every step of the process, beginning with choosing and caring for tools and setting up a studio, through design essentials, carving techniques, and printing techniques. Those techniques include multi-block printing, reduction cuts, puzzle blocks, and rainbow-roll printing. Advanced carving techniques for creating textures, crosshatching, and three-dimensional shading will give you the opportunity to expand and strengthen your expertise.
Among the visually stunning projects you'll learn to Along with author Emily Howard's own work, artist spotlights feature interviews with and examples of work by five other contemporary artists —Lili Arnold, Jen Hewett, Kelli MacConnell, Derrick Riley, and Aftyn Shah—as a means of clarifying how each technique can be used in different ways.
Block Print Magic is a must-have addition to any printmaker's bookshelf.
Block Print Magic is the perfect reference for a wide range of printmaking enthusiasts. The easy-to-follow illustrated instruction takes you through every step of the process, beginning with choosing and caring for tools and setting up a studio, through design essentials, carving techniques, and printing techniques. Those techniques include multi-block printing, reduction cuts, puzzle blocks, and rainbow-roll printing. Advanced carving techniques for creating textures, crosshatching, and three-dimensional shading will give you the opportunity to expand and strengthen your expertise.
Among the visually stunning projects you'll learn to Along with author Emily Howard's own work, artist spotlights feature interviews with and examples of work by five other contemporary artists —Lili Arnold, Jen Hewett, Kelli MacConnell, Derrick Riley, and Aftyn Shah—as a means of clarifying how each technique can be used in different ways.
Block Print Magic is a must-have addition to any printmaker's bookshelf.
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 2019
56 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 13, 2019
Beautiful ~ Playful ~ Enjoyable
tl; dr: Make stuff because it makes you better.
This appealing how-to book shows how to make block prints (like linocuts). I have done a great deal of printmaking, though I never enjoyed teaching printmaking. I was never good at communicating about elements, like planning in reverse. This book does a great job of demystifying the process, with strong text and lovely photographs. I particularly like the project ideas, like weaving prints. This would be a great book for a Montessori teacher or homeschooler, or just someone who needs a hobby.
tl; dr: Make stuff because it makes you better.
This appealing how-to book shows how to make block prints (like linocuts). I have done a great deal of printmaking, though I never enjoyed teaching printmaking. I was never good at communicating about elements, like planning in reverse. This book does a great job of demystifying the process, with strong text and lovely photographs. I particularly like the project ideas, like weaving prints. This would be a great book for a Montessori teacher or homeschooler, or just someone who needs a hobby.
March 22, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Block Print Magic is a tutorial guide for designing and carving blocks for raised block printing and using them to execute finished projects. Written by Emily Louise Howard (aka the diggingest girl) and released 12th Feb 2019, it's 144 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.
This is an upbeat and encouraging manual which presupposes no prior skills or familiarity with block carving or the printing process. The introduction covers tool and supplies. The section on tool maintenance and safety is very well done (buying the best tools you can afford and keeping them in good working shape are investments which will repay you many times over). There are good side by side comparisons of the results you can obtain with specific inks and papers. All the terms and tools are pictured and defined in the text.
The next chapters move along to developing specific techniques and a skillset for the artist. The chapters cover designing, transfer, and carving blocks. There is a good subchapter on the nuts and bolts of actually inking and printing an image. There are project tutorials for each step in the process. These are presented in roughly ascending order of difficulty and build on the lessons from the previous chapters. Woven throughout the text is an appealing glimpse into the author's creative process and philosophy.
The ebook version includes an interactive table of contents. Both versions include a glossary, bibliography for further inspirational reading, and a resource list for sourcing supplies and tools. There is a lot of valuable info here for use in other crafts and processes. I will be using the info presented in my bookbinding for journals and papercrafting.
Really well done. There aren't a lot of recent books on printmaking and this is a keeper.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Block Print Magic is a tutorial guide for designing and carving blocks for raised block printing and using them to execute finished projects. Written by Emily Louise Howard (aka the diggingest girl) and released 12th Feb 2019, it's 144 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.
This is an upbeat and encouraging manual which presupposes no prior skills or familiarity with block carving or the printing process. The introduction covers tool and supplies. The section on tool maintenance and safety is very well done (buying the best tools you can afford and keeping them in good working shape are investments which will repay you many times over). There are good side by side comparisons of the results you can obtain with specific inks and papers. All the terms and tools are pictured and defined in the text.
The next chapters move along to developing specific techniques and a skillset for the artist. The chapters cover designing, transfer, and carving blocks. There is a good subchapter on the nuts and bolts of actually inking and printing an image. There are project tutorials for each step in the process. These are presented in roughly ascending order of difficulty and build on the lessons from the previous chapters. Woven throughout the text is an appealing glimpse into the author's creative process and philosophy.
The ebook version includes an interactive table of contents. Both versions include a glossary, bibliography for further inspirational reading, and a resource list for sourcing supplies and tools. There is a lot of valuable info here for use in other crafts and processes. I will be using the info presented in my bookbinding for journals and papercrafting.
Really well done. There aren't a lot of recent books on printmaking and this is a keeper.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
March 16, 2025
An excellent book on block print art and how to produce your own. My major in collage was fine art printmaking and I remember making prints from linoleum blocks. Christmas cards, invitations, fine art subjects, reduction printing. Emily also featured various artists who specialize in block print art. This is a great book to get if you think print block art is what you want to do.
June 15, 2022
If you can only buy one book on linocut or block printing this is a good choice! The author includes DIY tools to make printmaking a pleasure such as a drying rack made with copper tubing and wire and several styles of printing jigs. Every project in the book is done with care and photographed clearly.
The projects build specific skills and give the reader/artist plenty of freedom. The author’s art isn’t generally to my taste but she includes profiles of other printmakers in a variety of styles which likely includes something for everyone.
The directions are clear and concise. She tells you what specific tools she actually used to create the effect but encourages you to use what you have or what you can afford.
There is enough basic information that you can go from having zero idea about block printing to successful prints in the first project. The first project could easily be done on fabric (which she covers later in the book) and turned into throw pillows or grocery tote bags or ???
The focus of the book is narrow, she doesn’t try to tell you how to do all the things. There’s little on color theory or basic design but there are many books on those topics. What the book focuses on is how to carve a lino block and how to create good prints from those blocks and it does that *very well*.
This is a definite candidate to be added to my personal art reference library.
The projects build specific skills and give the reader/artist plenty of freedom. The author’s art isn’t generally to my taste but she includes profiles of other printmakers in a variety of styles which likely includes something for everyone.
The directions are clear and concise. She tells you what specific tools she actually used to create the effect but encourages you to use what you have or what you can afford.
There is enough basic information that you can go from having zero idea about block printing to successful prints in the first project. The first project could easily be done on fabric (which she covers later in the book) and turned into throw pillows or grocery tote bags or ???
The focus of the book is narrow, she doesn’t try to tell you how to do all the things. There’s little on color theory or basic design but there are many books on those topics. What the book focuses on is how to carve a lino block and how to create good prints from those blocks and it does that *very well*.
This is a definite candidate to be added to my personal art reference library.
December 5, 2023
I'm new to linocut printing (and printmaking in general), and was getting overwhelmed by watching all the linocut tutorials and not really having a good idea of where to start, so I decided to buy a book and go from there.
This one I found after the fact at my library, and it's a great compliment to the book I purchased by Sam Marshall. There's crossover, of course, but both have unique techniques and tips that make them both valuable for a beginning printmaker.
I really like Emily's beginning project, which looks like a quilt square, and I also like her method for doing a multi-block, multi-color print. She also features the work of several different linocut artists for inspiration and some tips.
If you're wanting to delve into linocut block printing, you can't go wrong with this book!
This one I found after the fact at my library, and it's a great compliment to the book I purchased by Sam Marshall. There's crossover, of course, but both have unique techniques and tips that make them both valuable for a beginning printmaker.
I really like Emily's beginning project, which looks like a quilt square, and I also like her method for doing a multi-block, multi-color print. She also features the work of several different linocut artists for inspiration and some tips.
If you're wanting to delve into linocut block printing, you can't go wrong with this book!
April 21, 2019
Another useful, step-by-step guide on how to pick up a new hobby and create beautiful things. I must state my appreciation for such detailed books because my interest is very entry level and commitment free: a spare eraser, a penknife, and an ink pad. Block Print Magic shows the full depth and potential of the art with beautifully shot photographs and clear explanation. Each tool is shown and described. Projects start easy and layers on the complexity. A great addition to your library if you ever want to start block printing.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
May 30, 2019
Emily is one of my favorite artists -- I have several of her prints on my walls, and both of my girls have pieces by her as well. This book does several things, and it does them well: it gives you a glimpse into Emily's creative process, it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to create multiple pieces of art using different techniques, and it introduces you to a number of really amazing printmakers. All wins in my opinion.
June 8, 2020
This is a great, truly artistic primer to starting block printing. It moves quickly between projects and covers a lot of ground in a short book.
July 9, 2025
Interesting project ideas, even for the drying rack. I like that she interviewed a few different relief printing artists. I wish there was more discussion on the art and composition of the blocks themselves. that was barely covered and most of the book was different ways to print and use the blocks - still interesting but wanted more of the former.
May 26, 2019
3.5-4
July 2, 2019
Very good for a beginners introduction. I also enjoyed the artist spotlights.
February 19, 2021
Simple straight forward instructions mixed with creativity
March 23, 2023
A slightly alt take on printmaking - my favorite so far.
August 15, 2024
Very useful and love the little interviews with printing artists
Read
September 15, 2024really accessible and gorgeous! i especially love the creative exercises and the artist interviews :")
February 3, 2025
Pg 21, 79, 88, 99, 105, 108, 119
Good book for beginners.
Good book for beginners.
June 17, 2023
Emily Louise Howard’s writing is graceful, projects inspired, and the overall book is well detailed (while still being for beginners).
February 15, 2024
An excellent introduction to linocut projects. Fantastic photos. Wonderful project examples.
June 23, 2019
This is good guide to relief printing, but get the hardback—don’t try to read the kindle version.
February 14, 2019
Printmaking has always fascinated me, but I've not yet tried it myself. In Block Print Magic, Howard has covered all the tools necessary and outlined all the steps clearly to enable the reader to successfully get started and improve their skills in this craft. I love that she has included several DIY instructions for making some of the tools needed since a new hobby can be cost-prohibitive. Projects are clearly explained using both written instruction and numerous photos for easy follow-along. The included artist spotlights were a perfect addition, featuring some of the artists for whom printmaking is a passion. This book would be a great resource for anyone interested in printmaking!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Rockport Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Rockport Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2019
If your talent is in printmaking, or interested in the art of printmaking, this book will provide you with everything you need and more! This book will guide you through the tools needed to the materials you want to use. The photos and instructions make it easy to follow and allows you to begin to create your own printed art.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Netgalley
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Netgalley
February 28, 2019
Books on printmaking have been few and far between, many have wonderful illustrations and history, and some have limited information or photographs to demonstrate techniques or material/tools. This book has it all, as a printmaker, I find this book covers a lot of basic information for beginners, progresses onto more technical tips and workings, and finally wets the appetite with glorious printmakers talking about their work and printmaking.
This is a fabulous book, printmaking is a wonderful relaxing medium and it can be translated in so any ways, I really recommend this book to anyone who is interested in trying it out or who wants more information, or who is looking for inspiration. Modern and easy to follow - a great book, I wish I could score it higher .
This is a fabulous book, printmaking is a wonderful relaxing medium and it can be translated in so any ways, I really recommend this book to anyone who is interested in trying it out or who wants more information, or who is looking for inspiration. Modern and easy to follow - a great book, I wish I could score it higher .
April 6, 2019
A very interesting book!
I've been fascinated about block printing when I saw an artist on instagram post a video of her process with it. I wanted to take a class a few months ago but due to my schedule and budget concerns, I was not able to attend. When I saw this book I decided to see if I can try it out.
I haven't done any actual block printing at the moment but the activities and tips on tools was very helpful. I'll be getting the materials soon and I will definitely go back to this book to try out the process.
I've been fascinated about block printing when I saw an artist on instagram post a video of her process with it. I wanted to take a class a few months ago but due to my schedule and budget concerns, I was not able to attend. When I saw this book I decided to see if I can try it out.
I haven't done any actual block printing at the moment but the activities and tips on tools was very helpful. I'll be getting the materials soon and I will definitely go back to this book to try out the process.
April 18, 2019
An interesting book about lino printing. A subject I have been interested in but have never tried. This is a comprehensive guide which details tools and techniques. Good photos and instructions. It also has examples of work from other artists. Basically it tool me what I needed to know.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews