Anne-Lieke

Every year it’s SUCH a relief. The first snowdrops and crocuses raising there heads near the end of the winter season. Just like these colorful flowers, I long for light and air around this time of year. To shake off the dust and dark earth left over from winter time. Spring, I have been waiting for you!

Lino print snowdrops on laid paper

After six weeks of classes at the Teekenschool (Art School) of the Rijksmuseum, I have started to experiment at home with printing techniques. Lino prints are my favorite. Although I loved the magical result of the engraving last week, but this technique is a lot more messy to try at home (very persistent ink). Also, I prefer to work with color and find working in black-and-white a bit limiting. Lino prints are easy to make with a roller and special block print paint. I’ve also tried it with the regular acrylic paint that I had at home, but this is too runny and fills up the cuts in the lino, which makes the lovely details in your print disappear. I just love experimenting like this!

Since a few weeks, I am taking a wonderful Printing Techniques class at the Teekenschool (Art School) of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It’s so much fun every Wednesday evening, trying out all sorts of techniques and learning from my class mates. Drawing, pasting, linocutting, engraving… And then covering with paint or ink with a roller and start printing away. The results feel like a gift, every single time. Your own drawing can look completely different when mirrored!

Engraving a little godwit

This week, we engraved a small metal printing plate. With a burin we carved our drawing into the surface. Pretty difficult and hard work! The electrical burin workes much faster, but makes a lot of noise. With gigantic plastic protection goggles and headphones I carved away. I just love losing myself in the creative process. Below you can see the result of my little godwit chick in a meadow filled with Pentecostal flowers. A true Dutch picture perfect. As you can see it’s a lot of fun to play around with the amounts of ink that you leave on the printing plate and the movement with which you remove the ink (with cheese cloth). Next week we will try woodcarving. Can’t wait!

Art classes Rijksmuseum

For more fun art classes at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, take a look at the website of the Rijksmuseum.