Explore the Wonderful World of Print Making - With Our Beginner’s Guide
Printmaking is a means of artistic expression that involves the production of (usually multiple) images by applying a medium to one, often etched or carved, surface and pressing it onto another. These fine prints, as they are known, are considered original works of art even though there might be many of them, because the original design was made by the artist. Printmaking was originally just a way of making multiple copies of something, but artists then began to appreciate the unique characteristics that result from using the various printing tools and methods that exist. It is a fascinating process, with multiple forms such as etching, woodcut, linocut and intaglio.
At Art For Life, we tend to teach two forms of printing - monotype and monoprint.
Kaz Teaching A Sea Themed Lino Printing Workshop at Studio@39
Monotype printing
Monotype means printing from a clean smooth surface in a way that’s unrepeatable. The surface might be glass, perspex or a gel plate. This method produces a unique print each time. For example, if you painted a flower onto a smooth surface and then pressed a piece of paper onto it, the resulting print would be a one-off as you would need to re-paint the plate to take another print and it wouldn’t be identical. (Although you can take ‘ghost’ prints using the remaining paint, but they would be fainter.)
Monotype printmaking is a quick and simple process. Because only one impression is made with a monotype, the work you create is a unique. There is no need for a press ( although one can be used if you prefer). The results can be surprising, subtle, dramatic or painterly – all depending on how you work with this versatile and exciting method.
The excitement of pulling your first print of the series … delightful!
Monoprinting
Monoprint means a print taken from a surface that has been etched or carved into, for example lino cut printing. It’s a way of printing a series that has common elements but also allows some variation. Different coloured inks might be used for each one. In this instance each individual print would be numbered as it’s part of a series. It is standard to indicate how many prints are in the series too, so often prints would be numbered like so : 1/20
Another variation of a monoprint is a reduction print. This is when the ‘block’ is carved and printed in stages, to allow a different colour to be used for each layer.
Stages of A Reduction Lino Print by Kaz. As The Lino is cut away the layers beneath show through.
Basic Equipment Needed
For Monotype printing you can use any flat surface (this is called a ‘plate’), and paint on it with acrylic paints or printing ink. For monoprinting you need a surface you can cut into such as lino (using a lino cutter) or soft foam (using a biro).
The basic tools to begin Lino printing are very affordable.
Printing inks have a sticky texture (which makes a very satisfying sound!) Water based ink dries quickly, whereas oil based inks have a slower drying time. If you don’t want to buy multiple colours of printing ink, but you have acrylic paint, you could buy some ‘block printing medium’ to mix into your acrylic paints to add the tacky and slow-drying qualities you need.
You also need an inking tray to roll out the ink into a thin flat layer, and a roller. And smooth paper to print onto. Regular cartridge paper is smooth and flexible, so it’s perfect for simple mono.
Try adding foliage or flowers to your gelli plate
for spectacular botanical prints.
Would you love to try your hand with Pastels? Join us for our 10 week All-Abilities course and explore wide range of mediums and artistic styles. These art classes are suitable for all abilities, including complete beginners. We explore everything from architecture to portraits, using pencils, charcoal, pastels, watercolour, gouache and acrylics.