15 Lino’s in 30 Days – Lessons Learned

This was the 3rd time I participated in Leslie Saeta’s ‘30 Paintings in 30 Days’ challenge and it was the hardest and most challenging of all.

For the longest of time I’ve been trying to start making lino’s again but every time something would come up or I would simply decide to do something else.

In the past I’ve done lots of etchings and lino’s. In 2008 I injured my thumb and wrist by working too hard on a commissioned etching. I thought that if I took some time off, gave my hand a rest, the pain would disappear like it did before but it didn’t. It turned out to be an inflamed muscle or tendon, the doctors weren’t sure. To my frustration I didn’t get the proper help and ended up not being able to make art with my drawing hand for a year.

First I switched to my left hand and after a while back to my right and to inks. It took years before I could use pencils and pastels again without hurting. Etching and lino are physically very demanding so getting back in the saddle of making linocuts was a biggie.

That’s why I decided to turn Leslie Saeta’s ‘30 Paintings in 30 Days’ challenge into the

'15 Lino’s in 30 Days' challenge. Cut one day, print the next.

I knew this was going to be a difficult challenge and wasn’t sure if I would be able to finish it because of my old injury. But I did!

It is a huge relief to know I’m able to do lino’s again, maybe even drypoint etchings! I just need to set some rules for myself. Important is to take regular, small brakes.

So after 30 days of hard work I ended up with 15 new lino’s in one month’s time, which is a lot!

I ended up with some callus on my fingertips and (only) 4 cuts in my fingers.

Most importantly I ended up with the knowledge I can do lino’s again and I’m able to take on big projects!!