Linocut is actually a very meditative craft. You just don’t notice it until you understand a few key things.
Most beginners give up too early because they’re working with materials that are just no fun.
For example, if you grab a cheap, hard plate, you’ve already lost – you end up scraping more than cutting. The knife sticks, the linoleum cracks, your wrist aches, and you think, Why am I doing this to myself?
Same story with dull tools or designs that are way too detailed. Then there’s the ink, which spreads unevenly, and the paper sticking to the plate.
No wonder it feels like a struggle.

Once you know what really matters, everything changes.
A good, soft plate, sharp knives, a simple design, and a bit of patience – that’s all it takes.
Suddenly, the cutting flows, the inking is even, and the moment you lift your first successful print? Pure magic.
I think linocut is so much about calm, rhythm, and feeling. If you stop fighting the material and work with it, that’s when the flow everyone talks about happens.

Traditional grey or brown linoleum has a backing made of jute fibers. If that backing gets soaked, it contracts as it dries. The result? Your block becomes warped, bending upward in a convex shape – like it “dries crooked.”

Unfortunately, once this happens, it’s almost impossible to fix. Printing with a warped block is frustrating and inaccurate. The only possible solution would be gluing it onto a rigid surface — but luckily, you can avoid that altogether!

You don’t need running water to remove ink after printing.
A bowl of water, a sponge, and some dish soap are enough – assuming you’re working with water-based inks, of course! My recommendations for beginner-friendly inks are here.
Extra tip: An old towel or dishcloth is perfect for cleaning — but not as you might expect. Place your lino block on top of it to prevent moisture from soaking into the jute fibers!

Let’s talk about another common mistake — this time it happens during the printing stage of linocut! This one mainly affects those who print with traditional linoleum — the gray or brown sheets with jute fabric on the back.

You press your linoleum block down onto the paper like a stamp. The order is wrong — the right way is to place the paper on top of the block. So: block on the bottom, paper on top! The difference is that you have much more control over your printing result. Linoleum plates are quite stiff compared to rubber stamps, so they don’t press down evenly. As a result, your print will likely have missing areas where the ink didn’t transfer properly — simply because you can’t see where more pressure is needed.

If you place your linoleum block flat on the table and lay the paper over it, you can carefully lift the paper in certain spots during printing to check how it’s going. Missing color? Then you probably need more pressure — or a little more ink! With a bit of practice, you can easily roll on extra ink. I show you exactly how to do this step by step in my online course. Perfect, even, and consistent prints are the goal — and we can achieve that together!

When you print without a press, every print takes time, effort, and energy. So it’s even more frustrating when one turns out badly. I’ll show you how to save your prints and avoid this mistake next time.
Interested? I’d love to have you join my course and print along with me!

Getting the right amount of ink is one of the trickiest parts of linocut printing. Too much or too little ink — both can mess up your print. The good news: once you know what to look (and listen!) for, it’s easy to fix.

Using too much ink isn’t the end of the world, but it often leads to messy results. You’ll notice ink spreading beyond the carved areas or fine lines filling in and disappearing.
Another issue: oil-based inks take much longer to dry when applied too thickly. A normal, thin layer may dry in a few days, but if it’s too heavy, your print can stay tacky for weeks.

You can see it and hear it! If there’s too much ink on your roller, it will sound like you’re walking through mud — a wet, sticky noise while rolling.
The right amount of ink sounds smooth, quiet, and almost dry. In my online course, I even show you a short video lesson where you can hear and see the difference — and learn exactly how to find that sweet spot.

Having too little ink is far less of a problem. You can simply add a bit more or increase the pressure while printing.
The secret to beautiful linocut prints lies in the balance between ink, paper, and pressure. Once you get a feel for it, your prints will come out clean and vibrant.

If a print doesn’t turn out perfectly, don’t get discouraged. Often, small adjustments are all it takes to improve your results.
In my online course, I’ll guide you step by step through finding the perfect ink amount, achieving strong and even coverage — and rediscovering the joy of printing.

This mistake is particularly serious because it can quickly lead to real injuries. Carving demands full attention. Even if you’re careful, it has probably happened to almost everyone: the carving knife slips and suddenly a finger is cut. It’s awful — and very often preventable.

Cheap carving knife sets dull quickly. When a blade no longer cuts cleanly, the knife is more likely to slip. Many beginners also put their hands in the wrong place — that raises the risk even more. Combine dull blades with poor hand placement and you’ve got a recipe for accidents.

Dull blades force you to apply extra pressure. That reduces control and can cause sudden, jerky movements when the blade finally gives way — sometimes toward your hand. A sharp blade cuts with less effort and glides through the material. Sharpening isn’t optional — it’s safety work.

• Keep blades sharp: Sharpen regularly or replace disposable blades.
• Correct hand placement: Keep the non-cutting hand out of the blade’s path.
• Cut away from the body: Prefer cuts that move away from you, not toward you.
• Stable work surface: Use a steady table and a non-slip mat.
• Invest in quality tools: Better blades hold an edge longer and are safer.
• Take breaks: If you’re tired, put the knife down. Concentration protects.
• First aid ready: Have a small first-aid kit on hand and know where to get help.

This doesn’t have to happen. In my course I show you how to sharpen blades safely, how to position your hands, which knives are worth having and ergonomic techniques to reduce strain. Carving can be incredibly calming and meditative — when done safely. If you want, I’ll guide you step by step.

Mistakes are great for learning — but some are better avoided right away.
In my online linocut course for beginners, I guide you step by step through how to plan and mirror your designs correctly.

You can work traditionally on paper or digitally on the iPad Pro — whichever helps you visualize your layout more clearly.
Drawing directly on the linoleum can work, but if you want to print multiple color layers, planning your design first is essential.

What works best for me is starting with a small sketch in my sketchbook. It helps define the composition and gives a clear idea of how the final print will look. I often find inspiration on Pinterest — but I’ve learned that spontaneous doodling rarely results in a harmonious, well-balanced print.

If you’d like some guidance to jump-start your linocut journey, my course walks you through the entire process — from the first sketch to your finished print.

Once your interest in linocut is sparked, you probably want to stock up on all the necessary linocut materials, right? But where do you start? A quick Google search will show you countless beginner linocut kits – and at first, that looks super convenient.

However, many of these starter kits are filled with cheap, beginner-unfriendly products. Dull blades, old hard linoleum blocks, or ink that dries too quickly can quickly lead to frustration.

In the worst case, you grab one of these kits and lose interest before you even properly start printing.

No time to read? Click here!

I don’t want to generalize about every product—but most affordable beginner linocut kits on the market are unfortunately low-quality.

If you’re serious about this hobby, it’s worth putting together your own linocut starter kit with high-quality linocut materials that will support you as you start.

And if you’re not sure whether you’ll really enjoy linocut: good materials can always be resold later. But if you buy a bad kit and don’t enjoy it, that money is truly lost.

Attention linocut beginners: Some products can cause more frustration than necessary. Learn which materials really help you – and which ones to avoid to stay motivated!

Maybe you know this feeling: when a new hobby excites me, I want to know everything immediately, and I’m so hyped that I just want to start. I watch countless videos and slowly understand the process (or at least I think I do 😄). But when it’s finally time to start myself, questions arise: What should I buy? I don’t want to waste money – who knows if I’ll stick with this hobby?

Often, beginners are tempted to start with cheap products – totally understandable! HOWEVER, I have to admit: some budget supplies backfire. They lead to frustration because they simply don’t work properly. And as a beginner, you can’t always tell whether it’s your technique or the product that’s the problem.

From my experience, some products are fine to save on, but some professional-quality tools are actually much more beginner-friendly than their cheap alternatives.

Here are my top 5 frustrating products for linocut beginners – and better alternatives.

If you downloaded my free tool list, or watched my videos on Instagram, you probably have a good idea of what you really need as a beginner (or even advanced) linocut artist.

But here’s the question: Where can you buy all these supplies? I’ll share where I personally buy my favorite products and which shops I recommend.

Still unsure which tools and products you need for your lino printing starter kit? Just download my guide with product recommendations for linocut beginners – on 6 pages I list all the materials and tools I need to make my colorful prints – and you can do it too!

To keep it short: it depends. As always. I spent the first 1.5 years without a linocut press, and it worked perfectly fine. But once you’ve experienced using a press, you probably won’t want to go back.

One thing is certain: you don’t need a press to get good prints from your linocut block! It just requires more effort – mainly physical strength.

Learn to love linocut first before investing in a press. Once you’re ready and can afford it, you won’t regret the purchase.

For beginners, hand burnishers and a wooden spoon are enough to get beautiful prints.

Want to know more about essential tools for beginners? Check out my article: Linocut Tools for Beginners.