Linoleum Block Print Workshop

The Kansas City Public Library is hosting a Linoleum Block Print Workshop at its Southeast Branch on Saturday, October 24, from 1 PM to 4 PM. It's part of the library's Inktober series, and the whole afternoon is built around the idea that linoleum block printing is a fun way to make original designs and prints.

If you've never done it, the process is pretty straightforward: you carve a design into a linoleum block, ink it up, and press it onto paper. Because you're carving away the parts you don't want to print, you end up with a stamp you can use over and over. The workshop is set up so you can make a few different things to take home—postcards, greeting cards, or a standalone piece of original artwork. Since you're making your own block, you can print it as many times as you like, which makes it a great way to get a batch of handmade cards out of one afternoon.

One thing to keep in mind is that you'll be working with sharp carving tools, so the library provides safety gloves to keep your fingers out of the way while you're cutting. They provide all the other supplies too, so you don't need to bring your own gear—just show up and get to work. The session runs for three hours, which gives you plenty of time to carve your design and then run a few prints.

The workshop takes place in the Goppert Media Center at the Southeast Branch on Saturday, October 24, from 1 PM to 4 PM.