About Abigail

Abigail Lutzen in her studio, holding the Aboriginal flag

I'm Abigail Lutzen, a painter and printmaker living and working in Bronte, on Gadigal land.

I was born in Uruguay and migrated to Australia for the second time in 2003. When I was small my parents had a vinyl record of Australian sounds, and the kookaburra's laugh was the one I knew best. It was my first connection to a country I had not yet seen. A decade ago I moved to Bronte, and the beach became my sanctuary. I start most days with a swim, and a good deal of what I make begins there.

How I trained

I began studying at nineteen, first at the UTU, the Labour University of Uruguay, and then at Bellas Artes, the National Art School at the University of the Republic in Montevideo.

There are three things I consider fundamental to my work: theme, the Golden Ratio, and colour. I use the Golden Ratio as a compositional method to build my paintings, because that geometric relationship lets me place the points of interest and hold the whole picture in balance. Colour is what gives a painting its strength. I use it as a symbol, to create mood and movement, and to reach the person looking.

Why linocut

In 2020, in the middle of the Covid years, I started a series of linocut prints as a way of putting some joy and beauty into people's hands. I have been carving and printing ever since.

Linocut has no undo. You cut away everything you do not want printed, and once it is gone it is gone, so every mark has to be decided before it is made. That resistance is the appeal. The block wears a little with each impression, the ink sits differently every time, and no two prints in an edition are quite identical. It is slow, physical work, and it keeps me honest.

What the work is about

I want to tell stories about the world around me, and I have a particular interest in advocating for social justice. Much of the work comes from close to home: the magpie that returns to my doorstep each year with its new offspring, kookaburras, the whales I watched passing the shore at Byron Bay.

Some of it is what I carried here with me. The milonga rhythms of the Río de la Plata. Torres García turning the map of South America upside down. Women, myth, and the questions I cannot put down. My cat Charro, who was my soul mate for sixteen years, is in there too.

Exhibitions

I have shown at The Other Art Fair and the Wonderland Art Festival, and in 2021 I held my first solo show, Womanity, at the Corner Gallery in Sydney.

How the work is made

The paintings are one-of-a-kind works in oil and pastel on canvas. The prints are linocuts and woodcuts, carved and pressed by hand using eco-friendly pigments and linseed oil ink, on Italian Fabriano cotton, Khadi or mulberry paper. Every print is signed and numbered in pencil at the margin, and the edition size is listed on each artwork.

If you would like to know how the process works, it is set out on the printmaking FAQ.

What is Linocut Print?

Linocut is a cool printmaking technique where artists carve a design into a soft sheet of linoleum. Artists use special tools to cut away the parts they don't want to print. Once the design is carved, ink is applied to the raised parts, and the block is pressed onto paper. The carved areas stay blank, creating a unique and textured image.

How Do You Make a Linocut Print?

Creating a linocut print is a hands-on and artistic process. Here's how I bring my linocut prints to life:

  1. Design: I begin with a design or concept, ensuring it suits the bold and graphic nature of linocut. Whether it's a sketch or a transferred image, it sets the foundation.
  2. Prepare the Block: I secure the linoleum on a solid surface, providing stability for carving.
  3. Carving: Using specialized tools, I carve away the linoleum to reveal the design. It's a meticulous process, requiring attention to detail and consideration of the depth of each cut.
  4. Inking: Once the design is carved, I apply ink evenly using a roller. Achieving the right balance ensures a vibrant and consistent print, highlighting the raised areas.
  5. Printing: I carefully place paper over the inked linoleum block, applying pressure to transfer the design. This is done with a printing press or sometimes by hand using a spoon or barren.
  6. Repeating the Process: For multicolor prints, I repeat the steps with additional linoleum blocks for each color. Precise alignment is crucial for a cohesive final image.
  7. Drying and Editioning: After printing, the artwork needs time to dry. If it's part of a limited edition, I sign and number each print, embracing the variations that make each piece unique.

Feel free to explore the imperfect beauty of handmade linocut prints, and thank you for considering my work! If you have any specific ideas or questions, I'm always here to collaborate and create something special for you.

Why is Linocut Printing Limited Edition?

  1. Handmade Process: Each print is created by hand, from carving the linoleum block to pressing it onto paper. This manual process makes it time-consuming, limiting the number of prints I can produce.
  2. Wear and Tear: The linoleum block can wear down with each print, affecting the quality of subsequent impressions. As a result, I have to limit the edition to maintain the integrity of the prints.
  3. Ink Variation: Achieving consistent color in multiple prints can be challenging. Variations in ink application and pressure during printing contribute to subtle differences between each impression, adding to the uniqueness of each print.
  4. Signed and Numbered: Limited edition linocut prints are signed and numbered by the me. This practice adds a personal touch and provides collectors with information about the size of the edition.

Do you do Linocut Print Commissions?

Yes, I do accept linocut print commissions! If you have a specific design in mind or a concept you'd like to bring to life through linocut printing, I'd be happy to work with you. Please send me an email with details about your design, any specific preferences, and we can discuss the process, pricing, and timelines. I look forward to creating a unique and personalized linocut print for you!