1.1 What is Printmaking?

Printmaking is essentially the process of creating an original ‘print’, by transferring an impression from one surface to another. It is not a direct process such as drawing or painting but any method that allows an artist to create an image in one place that is then transferred to another. Printmaking is an exciting art form which at Magenta Sky we are very passionate about.

There are four main categories that the various forms of printmaking fall into – Relief (lino/woodcut, wood engraving), Intaglio (etching, drypoint, mezzotint), Stencil Based (screenprinting) and Planographic (lithography).

Monoprinting is one of the best techniques to introduce the concept of printmaking.  

It is a fairly simple technique that involves rolling out or drawing with ink on to a printing surface/plate. A sheet of paper is then laid over the top to take a print. It can be a very ‘painterly’ and free way of printing and if you have previous experience of painting this technique may suit your style of working.  

As suggested by its name, the image created is a one-off (mono) print so there are certain limits for reproducing the same image again. Although usually a monoprint is a unique print, several similar prints can be made one after the other i.e a series of monoprints depicting a similar scene or image.  

We will start monoprinting using just one colour ink, and then as you become more familiar with the method, you can build up to mixing several colours. Later in the course we will look at layering the colour and further ways to develop your ideas. 

As with all the techniques covered in this course you do not need a printing press to print the final image and the images are fairly quick to produce. It is a very exciting and immediate way of working and the creative process is very clear to see in the final print. 

Monoprinting is also relatively inexpensive as there are no specialist tools required except for the roller and inks. Both water-based and oil-based inks can be used. 

The type of paper that you use will also have an effect on the final image but we will consider this further in the step-by-step guides that follow. 

Monoprinting is a very flexible way of working with endless possibilities, so with this in mind, this course will break down and guide you through several possible ways of exploring monoprint.

1.3 Introduction to Monoprinting Video

Description: This video introduces what monoprinting is.

Time: 3.33 min