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Reduction linocuts of LA neon signs by Dave Lefner

February 27, 2012

I just found this amazing video of linocut artist Dave Lefner. Dave makes linocuts using the reduction printing technique, a high-risk and painstaking process. This video by Ric Serena is beautifully shot and really shows linocut at its colourful best. I love the way Dave is using linocut to capture the beauty of those old neon signs – it seems like the perfect match of medium and subject matter. The final prints look so luscious and the build-up of the layers of ink create a rich, shiny surface which I think mimics the signs really nicely.


The [ahr-tuh-zen] Project: Dave Lefner from Ric Serena on Vimeo.

Dave also speaks really eloquently about his art, what drives him to make linocuts and the pleasures and pains of practising such a specialist printmaking technique. He obviously works really hard and has a prolific output (I love the box of lino shavings that he collected over a year) but I have to admit to just a touch of envy when I saw his beautiful studio and press! Something to aim for…

Enjoy the video and check out the Dave Lefner website

Dave is represented by Skidmore Contemporary gallery if you want to buy his work

Dave Lefner – The Palace, 2008,  reduction linocut

Dave Lefner – Circus Liquor linocut

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    9 Responses to Reduction linocuts of LA neon signs by Dave Lefner

    1. Lizzie says:
      February 27, 2012 at 2:37 pm

      Oh thank you for sharing this – what a fabulous theme for reduction printing; very appropriate for an artist who lives in LA, but still, quite an original project.
      Having just started to learn reduction linocut, I so appreciated what he was showing us in the video. It is indeed a very painstaking process and Dave Lefner's artwork is amazing.
      Thank you for posting this link – I am in awe!!

      Reply
    2. Mrs Prink the Printmaker a.k.a Kerry-Jane Warner says:
      February 27, 2012 at 5:14 pm

      Amazing and inspiring. I too am collecting my Lino cuttings……trying to think of somevway to recycle them!

      Reply
    3. beletteprint says:
      February 27, 2012 at 8:06 pm

      I love it! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Magic Cochin says:
      February 28, 2012 at 10:34 am

      Thank you for posting this… what an enjoyable film to watch and fantastic prints too.

      Celia

      Reply
    5. Laura Weston Art says:
      February 28, 2012 at 11:36 am

      This is a great post – awesome attention to detail in every aspect of the process. Great to see the artist at work in his studio. thanks for posting it.

      Reply
    6. printerRosey says:
      February 29, 2012 at 3:51 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing. Famtastic work. I love it!
      printerRosey

      Reply
    7. jewels says:
      June 19, 2013 at 7:47 pm

      An excellent post. An excellent Artist.

      Reply
    8. Suzanne Gaff says:
      May 30, 2016 at 3:00 am

      I’ve recently gone back to finish my studio arts degree after retiring. I am taking some printmaking classes and reduction linocuts are my favorites so far! Neon signage as well as other signage is also among my favorite subject matter to photograph. Love your work!

      Reply
    9. Marta Brysha says:
      August 25, 2019 at 1:45 am

      I”m clearly a bit late to this party but I have a burning question. I have always been told that you should ink in one direction only and not roll back and forth over the same area because you risk pushing ink into some of the finer cutting. Clearly that’s not a problem here because there’s not a lot of fine detail involved and his prints are amazing. What are your thoughts on this?

      I love your book and bought a signed copy way back when. Thank you for your efforts in print and online.

      Reply

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