What is monoprinting?

Mono-printing is to make an impression on paper, the process only allowing one print to be made. There are many different techniques that can be described as mono-prints, from potato printing to screen-printing, the word does not describe the process but rather the amount of impressions that can be made. The print can be made with a press or without, with traditional printing inks or water-colours (as in Japanese wood block printing) and using a printing plate or not. It often allows unparalleled freedom and experimentation and can be mistaken for painting.

I have developed my particular technique over several years, as a result of wanting freedom from a having to use a press and specific processes. It involves rolling oil paint onto perspex or glass, manipulating it, then placing paper over the top and applying pressure by hand. I will do this several times to create the level of colour and depth I require, and I constantly revise what I want from a picture as it evolves.

The types of paper I use have a massive effect on the print, creating different textures, iridescence and translucency.

Below are some photographs of me at work that illustrate my technique.  This process will be repeated for each colour applied.

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Mixing colours
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Putting ink onto the perspex ‘plate’
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Rolling the ink out evenly with a rubber roller
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Taking some ink off to make shapes, form and texture
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Placing the paper over the ink
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Smoothing the paper out
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Applying pressure with a baren
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Pulling the paper away to reveal another layer of colour