How to Create Andy Warhol Inspired Lino Printing Pop Art

How-To Guides

Andy Warhol didn't just paint, he industrialised art, turning everyday objects into cultural commentary through mechanical repetition.

If you want to capture bold, graphic energy with the unique texture of a handmade print, this is your next project. We're breaking down the process of carving and printing a Warhol inspired cupcake block. Learn how to achieve that high-contrast Pop Art aesthetic using simple tools, transforming a common treat into a striking image!

Step by step - Let's Create

For this technique, you will need easy-cut printing blocks, block printing watercolours, a lino handle and cutter set, tracing paper, painting trays, and paper to print onto.

TIP: You may also require bench hooks to minimise slipping when cutting the lino blocks.

Start by choosing your repeat print design. This can be a printed image or stencil to trace from or drawn free-hand. Ensure the design fits into the printing block! Draw this onto tracing paper using a pencil, and then trace it onto the printing block.

Next, decide which parts of your design to carve out. Carve this using a lino cutter and a range of cutter blades. For this design, we have carved out all of the background to leave the outline of the cupcake. Remember, your design will also be mirrored when printed!

TIP: If you wish to print using more than one colour, create two or more lino blocks by splitting your design using the tracing paper design. Here, we split the cupcake case and the top of the cupcake out onto two blocks and carved away the background

Next, ink up your carved printing block using a roller and ink. You only need a thin layer. Print your first block into the corner of your paper, ink the block again and print this diagonally from the corner of your first print.

Continue to print your design using a checked layout with the square block, as above. To add background colours, take another printing block and ink it all over. Print this in between your previous prints.

Allow the background colours to dry, and ink up your carved printing block again to print over these sections, lining up the square block edges.

If you opted for multiple printing blocks for your design, ink the blocks in the desired ink colours. Starting with the top of the cupcake, print this on top of the background by lining up the square edges again. Take the bottom of the cupcake, then print it on top, ensuring it is also aligned to the background