Chic-chats with Sonia Dubois - the designer of iconic Lino Throw

What does the process of creating a linocut look like?

I learned the craft in the Relief Printing Studio at Poznań University of Arts, but I quickly developed my own method. I draw the design directly on the linoleum with a pen or crayon, usually just outlining the matrix and its main elements. I carve the illustrations with a chisel, and the details often come from improvisation—it’s a bit like sketching with a chisel. I apply the ink to the matrix using a roller, brush, or tissue, or sometimes I print without ink. The resulting pattern is strongly pressed onto paper using a printing press.

How did your artistic journey begin? What forms did you create at the beginning?

I am a graduate of the High School of Fine Arts in Szczecin, where I studied in a woodcarving class. There, I learned to use chisels and work with wood. I also completed a master's degree in architecture at UAP in Poznań, where we had many artistic courses. After completing my engineering studies, I worked as a graphic designer for a year, which only reinforced my decision that I did not want to spend the rest of my life in front of a computer working for the wrong people. And so began my journey to where I am now. Initially, my linocuts were mainly figurative and black, depicting my sad versions of women from famous paintings by artists like Botticelli, Manet, and Rubens.

What challenges do you face in your work as an illustrator?

The less romantic challenges that all sole traders face!

What are three qualities of good contemporary design?

Original concept, noble material, and cruelty-free execution.

What are your biggest sources of inspiration?

Fauna and flora—especially Polish fields and forests—and music, mainly mk.gee and oysterboy as of late.