Reduction print – Folk Style Linocuts By MStraccia Art

Applying for Open Calls and Exhibitions

At the start of 2025, an artist friend suggested I try to get my prints into some exhibitions. I applied to four open calls this year and I was successful at three of them. How Did I Find Out About Open Calls? Galleries and art organisers promote their open calls on Instagram. It seemed toContinue reading “Applying for Open Calls and Exhibitions”

Dipper Print Inspired By A Walk In Monsal Dale, Derbyshire

This is my latest completed reduction linocut print of a dipper I saw at Monsal Dale in Derbyshire. Anyone who is familiar with the area should recognise the old railway viaduct in the background over the winding River Wye. Me and my partner, Jack, had a fantastic sunny Spring Day, walking the meadow and lookingContinue reading “Dipper Print Inspired By A Walk In Monsal Dale, Derbyshire”

Kestrels Near Harboro Rocks

A New Reduction Linocut Print Inspired by the Nature in the Derbyshire Dales Way back in November I was lucky enough to go to the Derbyshire Dales and Peak District for a little birthday trip with Jack. I love this part of the English countryside. It is the nearest British National Park to Sheffield University (whereContinue reading “Kestrels Near Harboro Rocks”

My 2024 Art Journey: Achievements and Reflections

I’ve noticed some artists on social media are sharing their work and accomplishments of 2024. I was reading these posts thinking, “Oh no, they’ve done so much this year and I haven’t achieved anything. Why am I so lazy?” I decided to try and write it down. Here is my retrospective of 2024. I exhibited atContinue reading “My 2024 Art Journey: Achievements and Reflections”

Boxing

‘Boxing’ is my latest reduction print. I was inspired by Watership Down. Like a lot of kids who grew up in the 80s my parents thought Watership Down was a cute and cuddly cartoon about bunnies that would be suitable for little girls. How wrong they were. This summer, I finally read the novel byContinue reading “Boxing”

Slowly with Warts and All

I have finished a new reduction linocut print called ‘Toad and Snail’. It is inspired by all things witchy and celestial, with the creatures in the centre of the composition and a hopeful shooting star overhead. Linocutting is a slow, old fashioned way of printing. Slow like a snail! And because I print by handContinue reading “Slowly with Warts and All”

Making a Reduction Linocut Print

I have been working on a very special reduction lino cut print and I have been recording my process.I recently uploaded a video which explains how I create my reduction prints at home. I hope you find it informative. Hopefully it will inspire you to try your own print, using the reduction technique.Watch it here.

The Cormorant

Last year I bought myself a pookie press. These are portable table top linoprinting presses that are an affordable way to print for hobbyists like myself. They are made here in the UK. My press prints up to A3 in size. It’s compact, so doesn’t take up much room in my little terrace house. IContinue reading “The Cormorant”

Stoat

A new reduction linocut print I’ve been having problems selling with Etsy and I was going to join a new online shop, but it’s so time consuming, I can’t be bothered to organise the switch! There are so many hyperlinks on various websites and platforms to tweak. I decided to keep going with Etsy forContinue reading “Stoat”

Swallows

Here is my latest linocut reduction print. It is called ‘Swallows’, inspired by my favourite early summer walks around Bedford’s Priory Marina. It is always a pleasure watching these acrobatic birds perform their aerodynamics over the lake at dawn or dusk. It’s exciting seeing the first swallows arrive each year. You know that summer isContinue reading “Swallows”