Carving It Out

It’s been a dry winter, so instead of carving the mountains, we came together to carve something else – linoleum!

We welcomed Evergreen-based printmaker Margaret DeKoven to Adorn for an afternoon centered around process, experimentation, and hands-on creativity. Margaret guided us through the world of printmaking, sharing insights into monoprints, woodblock printing, and etching, along with her own journey into the craft and the artists who inspired her - Sister Corita Kent, Tessa Holmes, Lisa Takahashi, and others.

Then it was time to get to work.

Margaret led us step-by-step through creating our own linocut prints. We carved. We mixed colors. We rolled ink with brayers. And we used a press best described as a tortilla maker. It was simple, tactile, and surprisingly satisfying. We learned to carve away the negative space, leaving raised areas to hold ink and reveal the final composition.

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The results were as varied as the group itself. Bold patterns, delicate botanicals, expressive animals, birds, and landscapes - each print a small window into its maker’s perspective.

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What began as blocks of linoleum quickly transformed into a collection of personal, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, ready to be shared with friends and family.

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And while we won’t get ahead of ourselves…watch out M.C. Escher and Andy Warhol. A new generation of printmakers may be on your heels.‍

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At Adorn, these are the moments we value most, bringing artists and designers together to explore process, share inspiration, and create something side by side. It’s how we continue to deepen relationships, celebrate craft, and build a creative community that extends well beyond the studio.