Hand colored lino cuts (linoleum block prints) are a type of relief print. To create a linoleum block print a design is sketched onto the surface of a piece of battleship linoleum. Areas that are to be white (paper) or later hand colored, are cut away with gouges; the portions of the design that will print as black are left untouched. When the cutting is complete, a thin layer of an oil-based ink is rolled onto the block, inking only the areas that have not been carved away. A sheet of paper is placed on the block and then rolled through a special printing press. The ink transfers to the paper, creating an exact — though reversed — copy. Inking and printing is repeated for each print. The number of prints in an edition is limited to ensure quality. After the edition is printed, the plate is destroyed. When the ink has dried, each print is hand colored using watercolors. Because these editions are printed by hand and individually hand colored, there are slight variations between prints.

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