Getting better at it

I've been studying linocuts on the net. I've been looking at other artist's work and comparing it to my two attempts. (By the way, this is a path to disaster and I highly recommend not doing that, and soon I might even begin to listen to my own advice...lol)So it occurs to me that the two designs I made are a bit flat and have no energy, no movement.I know, I've only just started, but before you start to shake your head at me, let me explain. You see I strive for movement and energy in my paintings. If I can't get movement in the subject them I go for light and the movement of light over the subject, so the linocuts feel a bit "flat" to me because I've only got that one colour ink to play with.So Monday I took some time to draw some seed heads and weeds from the lane with a view to maybe cutting another piece of lino, and then posted this little pic on FB :) :While I'm waiting for some lino and tools I ordered to arrive form a London company called Intaglio, I still had that difficult to cut larger piece I bought form the art supply store in Oxford and so took it to the Printmakers Cooperative and spent Tuesday there.I sketched out elements of the design on the lino and borrowed some good tools and went to work.This lino did get easier to cut on the hot plate, but it took me four and a half hours to cut the design and it's really unrealistic to sit over a hot plate for that time, so it was the hard way.After one hour...nope, still don't like this lino but it isn't going to get the better of me!After four hours and a cramped hand! Almost done.After four and a half hours I really had to get going and so walked out of Oxford shaking my hand and flexing my fingers. Had to show you this photo...lol, seems like spandex has caught on big time round here.So finally home and I ran up to the studio and inked my design and quickly printed it to see what I got.I LIKE IT!Needs more finishing and needs more ink, but the idea of movement is there. I'm really happy with this third attempt and now I'll play with that for a little while. :)