Making a Print

The printmaking process Nolan uses is called reductive, or destructive woodcut relief printmaking. It is called this because by the time the print is completed, the block has been destroyed by the process and no further prints can be printed. The print is created through the carving of wood with various chisels and carving tools. The first areas to be carved away by the artist are those which should remain white, or the color of the paper. Then, ink is applied to the surface with a brayer and either hand printed onto paper or pulled through a printing press. After this step, the last color to be printed is carved away from the block. This process is repeated until the final color to be printed is all that remains on the block.