About LeWa
My name is Leonie, often called Leo. I’m a self-taught printmaker and have a Bachelor’s degree in history and art history. I live in Bottrop, Germany.
Growing up I always liked to draw and create things. However I didn´t gave lino printing a try until December 2020, when I made my very first print. I’m hooked to this medium ever since. I really enjoy the different stages of the process from drawing/designing an image, over carving it and finally printing it.
My work is mostly inspired by my love for history and art. The motifs of my prints range from places of longing all over the world, to fantasy creatures and cute animals, to new interpretations of artworks from different eras.
All linoblocks are carved and printed by hand on paper, or in some cases even on fabric. Small deviations can always occur during this process, which makes each print not only an original, but also unique.
About lino print
What is lino printing?
There are different methods of printmaking. One of them is block printing. The main types of this method are metal block, wood block and linoleum (lino) block. My prints are all made with lino blocks. This means I have to carve a design into the surface of the linoleum first, leaving raised (uncarved) areas. These have to be mirrored to what’s supposed to be the final print. The block has to be evenly inked up with a roller, also called brayer. The paper gets pressed onto of the block to create the final printed image. This can be done by hand or with a press.
Wood printing has a long tradition but Linoleum was only created in the 1800s and firstly used as floor covering. It became a cheaper and easier to carve alternative to wood blocks, especially for amateurs. Its popularity grew when artists such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso started using it in the early 1900s. Linocuts were especially popular among the German Expressionists in the beginning of the 20th century.
About Packaging
Packaging has more than one life.
The packaging that I use may look rough, they all already travelled a bit, but don´t panic, they can handle a few more trips for sure! That´s why I reuse them (and you can too). Many small business owner use recycled or environment friendly packaging, which I think is great! Since I´m just starting out and don´t have to handle as many orders as others, I like to collect and reuse packaging that I get from family and friends. So while the outside of your order might look a bit rough, I promise, your print will be packed super safe and extra pretty. In the end it’s what’s on the inside that counts!