It sounds a bit crazy, but after 10 years of linocut printmaking, I have finally invested in the last tool I need to complete my set. Why haven't I bought this tool sooner, and which one was it anyway?
My Love Affair With Pfeil Tools
To my mind, Pfeil gouges are the very best for linocut and woodcut, and this is why this is the only brand you'll find in my studio. The wooden mushroom handles are comfortable to hold even after hours upon hours of cutting, and the blades are reasonably easy to sharpen with my go-to sharpening device, the Flexcut Slipstrop. I like to think the tools I own now will be the ones that I work with until the very end!
So until this week, I only ever used 4 different shaped Pfeil gouges for my linocutting. When I first started linocut printmaking, I seem to recall buying a set from Jackson's that had half a dozen or so different blades, but as time went on I realised I kept gravitating to the same 3 blades, and lacked a broader U shaped tool so added one of those to my armoury. This week I have been the proud recipient of a (drumroll please) small v-shape tool, capable of the finest most intricate details. I haven't tried it yet but I know its going to open up the mark-making possibilities even further for me.
The Only Pfeil Tools You Need
The tools I use for linocut and woodcut are:
Small u - aka the blade 11/1
Medium u - aka the blade 11/3
Large U - aka the blade 9/5
The Clearing Tool - aka the blade 5/8
I recall that my linocutting journey with Pfeil tools started with the medium U tool. It's around 5mm wide and is great for broad cut marks - think of it as the Sharpie marker of the gouge world! When I'm cutting an elaborate print I'll go around outlines with the small u and then widen the cut with this tool, and then if any very large areas need cutting away completely I do this with the clearing tool. I began linocutting with the aim of creating images that were as bold as a Matisse cut-out, and this tool is broad and bolshy; perfect for the aesthetic I had in mind.
As I mentioned, the small u is perfect for going around outlines, and its also great for fine-ish details.
The clearing tool has just a slight curve to it so is almost like a chisel. This makes it great for clearing away large areas.
Top Tip: If you are clearing a broad area, cutting a series of lines using the large U in stripes about 1cm apart before using the clearing tool significantly speeds up the process. Place the clearing tool within 2 cut-away lines and watch that tool glide!
So I've finally succumbed to the small v. Why didn't I buy one before? Well, to be honest, I never wanted to be the kind of printmaker that incorporated a lot of fine detail. I wanted my work to be composed of big bold shapes. I still do. But nowadays I realise there's a difference between intricate fine detail, and texture...and texture is my newest love. I want my big bold shapes to sometimes revel in some experimental textures, meat for the eye to digest slowly. My work is evolving and that means the tool box needs just one more gouge. I'll let you know how I get on in due course!
FAQ: Why do Pfeil make so many other tools when they're not needed?
Answer: They're really for wood carving/sculpture. With relief printmaking, you just need to make an incision, it doesn't need to be too deep, and so there's no need for tools that are shaped to make deeper cuts.
Comments