Are Craig Mitchell’s Prints Digital? Absolutely Not. Here's Why.

Key Takeaways

• Craig Mitchell creates hand-carved block prints, not digital illustrations.
• Each image begins with a linoleum block, or a block of wood, that is carved by hand.
• Ink is rolled onto the raised surface and transferred to paper through pressure.
• Every print is pulled individually, which means slight variations naturally occur.
• The handmade process gives the artwork texture, depth, and a tactile quality.

Quick Answer

Emphatically no! Craig Mitchell's artwork is not digital. Every single piece is drawn and  painstakingly carved by hand, rooted in ideas developed over many years of painting and sketching outdoors in the natural world. They are born from real landscapes, real observation, and real experience — not from a screen. Each piece begins as a hand-carved linoleum block that is inked and printed onto paper using traditional relief printmaking techniques. The final print is created through physical carving, inking, and pressure—not a computer or digital printer.

Why People Sometimes Think Craig’s Art Is Digital

At first glance, someone unfamiliar with block printing may mistake Craig Mitchell’s prints for digital creations. The bold simplicity that gives Craig’s work its modern, fresh look can also make it appear as though it could only be created digitally.

But digital prints and handmade block prints are as different as night and day.

A digital print is created on a screen and reproduced by a machine at the push of a button. It’s pixels, files, and perfect replication.

A handmade block print is something else entirely.

It begins with an idea — sketched, refined, and then separated into multiple blocks for printing. Each block is carefully carved by hand. Every cut is deliberate. Every line carries pressure, intention, and risk. After carving, ink is rolled onto the raised surface that remains while the carved areas stay clean. Paper is then pressed onto the block by hand to transfer the image, one impression at a time, each color printed in succession.

Subtle variations in ink, pressure, and paper give each print its own texture and character.

One is manufactured.

The other is crafted.

One can be duplicated endlessly with mechanical precision. The other carries the unmistakable marks of the human hand.

They may both hang on a wall — but the experience, the process, and the soul behind them couldn’t be more different.

The Material Behind Craig Mitchell’s Prints: Linoleum

Craig doesn’t carve wood blocks. Instead, he uses linoleum, a material commonly used in modern relief printmaking.

Linoleum has a smooth, consistent surface that allows artists to carve precise lines and flowing shapes with less effort than what is required when carving wood.

This helps produce the clean, graphic look that many people associate with Craig’s work. Despite that clean appearance, the process is completely manual. Each line you see in the finished image began as a physical cut into the block.

How a Linoleum Block Print Is Made

The process is slow and deliberate, where every decision shapes the final image.

1. Sketching the Landscape

Craig starts by sketching a composition inspired by places around Nevada and the Sierra Nevada—often Lake Tahoe and desert landscapes inspired by his years of plein air painting.

2. Planning the Blocks

3. Transferring the Design

The drawing is transferred to a sheet of linoleum, which becomes the first printing block.

4. Carving the Block

Using carving tools, Craig removes the areas that should remain white in the final image Everything left raised will hold ink.

5. Inking the Block

Craig carefully mixes inks to find the perfect shades, then rolls them across the raised surfaces of the block, testing colors and adjusting as needed.

6. Printing the Image

Paper is pressed onto the inked block, transferring the design. 

This process is repeated for each block until the full print is complete.

Why Many Block Prints Are Produced in Limited Editions

Another difference between block prints and digital prints is how they’re produced over time.

Digital art prints can be reproduced indefinitely because the artwork exists as a digital file. As long as the file remains available, identical prints can be generated whenever needed.

Block prints work differently. Each print is pulled from a physical carved block, and the printing process gradually wears the surface down. Over time, fine lines can soften and edges may lose some of their original sharpness.

For that reason, many artists—including Craig Mitchell—produce their block prints in limited editions. Limiting the number of impressions helps preserve the quality of the carving and ensures that every print reflects the same level of detail and clarity.

It also keeps the artwork tied to a specific moment in the artist’s practice. Each edition represents a defined period when the block was inked, printed, and completed by hand.

Why Handmade Prints Feel Different From Digital Prints

Because block prints are made by hand, subtle variations naturally appear.

Ink coverage may shift slightly. Pressure can vary. Paper may show the impression of the carved block.

Rather than flaws, these details are part of what collectors value about handmade prints.

They reveal the physical process behind the image and the artist’s direct involvement in every step.

Why Craig Mitchell Continues to Print by Hand

Explore the Print Gallery

Curious what handmade block prints look like in person? Explore Craig Mitchell’s gallery of block prints inspired by Lake Tahoe and the landscapes of Nevada.

Each print is carved and printed by hand and produced in carefully considered limited editions.

FAQs

Is Craig Mitchell’s artwork digital?
No. Craig Mitchell creates linoleum block prints using traditional relief printmaking techniques.

What material does Craig Mitchell carve?
He carves linoleum blocks, which allow for smooth carving and clean lines.

Are Craig Mitchell prints handmade?
Yes. Each print is inked and pulled individually by hand.

Why do the prints look so clean if they’re handmade?
Linoleum has a smooth surface that allows artists to carve precise lines, creating the crisp look many people associate with Craig’s work.