The lino that fights back the whole way
There's a block on the bench has me nearly whipped this week. Cherry lino, about A4, and every single cut's gone against me. The knife's skipping where it should glide, I've got a pull that's too shallow where I wanted deep, and I've already nicked a section I'd spent an hour on. Twice.
And here's the thing. I'm actually enjoying it. There's a perverse pleasure in a block that won't behave. When it all goes easy I start wondering where the craft went. You're not carving, you're just confirming. But when the material fights back, you have to actually think your way out of it, and that's where the good stuff shows up.
I remember a fella told me years ago, when I was labouring, that a wall that went up too smooth was a wall he didn't trust. He was talking about plaster, but sure he might as well have been talking about lino.
Anyway. The damned hare's looking at me with one eye half done and I can't tell if he's judging the work or just tired of my excuses. I'll win in the end. They always give in eventually, even the stubborn ones.
Anyone else got a piece on the go that's being a prick this week, or is it just me?😅
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I know exactly the feeling. There's a point in any piece where the surface stops cooperating and you stop being a pair of hands executing a plan and start actually thinking. That's the real work. Easy material just tells you what you already knew.
With the lino, have you tried warming it a bit before you pull the knife? A few minutes on a radiator this time of year changes the whole character. Sometimes the fight is just the material asking to be treated differently. And if it still fights after that, then it's earned the right to fight, and you can enjoy it honestly.
"Easy material just tells you what you already knew", that's the whole thing, isn't it. Sure you could do that in your sleep, and what did you learn? Nothing. But a block that won't behave, it's not your enemy, it's your teacher, and the lesson is usually "you're better than the last thing you pulled, now prove it."
And the radiator trick, I'll tell you that's a fine tip and I've never once tried it in all my years. Isn't that gas. I'll have that block up on the rad tonight and see does it soften its attitude. Though part of me thinks a lino that's fought me this hard has earned the right to be stubborn, and I should respect that and keep at it cold. The fight's the fun, sure. But I'll give it the warm treatment and see which of us turns out to be right. Worst case I've enjoyed myself either way.