Macclesfield artist creates portraits through printed lines
By Alex Greensmith
16th Feb 2022 | Local News
Macclesfield: Want some locally-produced artwork of your celebrity hero, or a unique family portrait?
A Macclesfield designer has made a living selling limited edition hand carved graphic portraits of cultural figures and sporting icons in linocut print.
Town centre-based graphic designer Stuart Eaton has recreated 40 celebrities using a linocut method inspired from the 1970s, which gives his images of icons such as Jimi Hendrix and Robert Smith a striking retro-chic feel.
His hand-crafted art of famous figures has bagged him a five-star rating on Etsy.
As well as a linocut A4 of Macclesfield musician Ian Curtis, a magical portrait of The Wicked Witch of the West also stands out in Stuart's portfolio.
And Stuart is a bit of a tech-wizard himself, as we found out when he tried to explain to us how his unique artwork is created.
"The technique is a similar concept to when you see a printed newspaper where a photograph is made up of thousands of little dots," said Stuart.
"In the 1980s there was a new imaging technology introduced called schafline, which was used in press advertising.
"With this method you could achieve a sharper image as it used lines rather than the usual halftone dots.
"It was more expensive to produce - but I used to use it when I worked in advertising - and I loved it.
"I thought it was a really interesting way of making simple lines replicate a photograph.
"So during the start of lockdown I was just messing round with a few lino cuts and I thought I could try and do some portraits loosely based on that technique and see how it looked.
"It really was trial and error and I finally go to point where I'm happy with that.
"First, you have to digitally retouch an image before you can break it down into lines.
"I then convert the source image into black and white, and then simplify the image until it successfully converts into a half-tone image suitable to work with.
"The eyes and lips usually need most attention in the early retouching process.
"Once the halftone image is complete, the image is flipped and transferred onto a lino block, ready for hand carving.
"Once carved, the block is inked and pressed onto paper for the final print.
"Depending on the complexity, it takes me about three to four hours to create, carve and print a new image.
"I use a Japanese lino which is great quality and ends up with a sharp image."
Stuart's prints make great gifts, and has even started doing pet portraits through this method as well.
He'll recreate anything you want in linocut print, for a reasonable price.
"My best sellers at the moment have been The Beatles and David Bowie," he added.
"Jurgen Klopp has also sold very well. I also started doing cinema icons because Jordan from Cinemac [on Roe Street] commissioned me to do some prints for their reopening after lockdown."
After spending the a year being sold around the world, a physical store in the heart of Macclesfield stocked Stuart's work for the first time.
The only place you can buy Stuart's work on the high street in Macclesfield is Proper Sound on 8 Chestergate.
They started selling his prints when they opened in late October.
"I think it is a great marriage of two companies trying to do a similar thing in Macclesfield," he also said store.
Stuart's A4 Prints cost just £20.
You can also commission anyone you would like to see recreated in the sharp and sleek linocut print style.
His Etsy store can be viewed here.
Macclesfield: You can also follow Stuart on Facebook.
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