Create One-of-a-Kind Art with Monoprints

Monoprinting is an extraordinary printmaking process you can use to create captivating works of art. Unlike traditional printmaking methods which involve creating multiple identical prints (and can be costly and complex to boot), monoprinting results in a singular unique print that can’t be replicated. 

Best of all, anyone can learn to monoprint. With just a few easily accessible supplies, you can start creating completely distinctive prints of your own. 

What Is Monoprinting?

The prefix “mono-” can be traced back to Ancient Greece, where it meant “only,” “alone” or “single.” So, it makes sense that monoprinting refers to a printmaking process that produces one-of-a-kind prints.

Unlike many other printmaking methods, such as screen printing, woodcut printing and etching, monoprinting plates (the plates used to transfer designs onto a surface) can’t be used more than once. Instead, you’ll need to create a new design for each print.

To make a monoprint, start by applying ink or paint onto your printing plate. Your printing plate can be made of glass, metal, plastic or even cardboard, and your design can either be: 

• additive, in which you add ink or paint to the areas you want to be filled in; or
• subtractive, in which you lay down a layer of ink or paint before selectively removing it to create a design out of the resulting negative space. 

Next, press your printing plate onto your chosen surface, whether it be a piece of paper, metal, clay or cloth.

Once your design is imprinted, you can reuse your printing plate again, but the design you originally created can never be precisely replicated again. In other words, if you’re trying to create a series of identical prints then you’re not likely to be a fan of monoprinting. But if it’s original art you’re looking for, monoprinting will be right up your alley.

Monoprint vs. Monotype

While they’re both printmaking techniques you can use to create one-of-a-kind artworks, monoprints and monotypes are technically not the same. According to their definitions: 

• Monoprints can involve variations on a series, and can use printing plates in which part of the design is permanent. For example, let’s say you carve a design into your printing plate to create a permanent pattern, but also change other elements between each print you use it for. This would be considered monoprinting. 
• Monotypes don’t use any repeatable elements at all. For instance, if you paint a design onto your printing plate and wipe it clean between each print, this would be considered monotyping.  

The two terms are often used interchangeably, though, so you don’t need to worry too much about properly classifying your work. Just know that if it involves variations on a fixed design, it’s a monoprint. But if it involves a 100% unique design, it’s a monotype. 

Monoprint Supplies

Thanks to the simple and minimalistic nature of monoprinting, you may be able to create your first monoprints using items from around your house—technically speaking, a piece of paper, an improvised printing plate and some pigment are all you need. 

But to make your experience more enjoyable (and your end results even more impressive), you can benefit from getting some basic supplies. 

Ink and Paint

One of the most important supplies you’ll need is ink or paint. The type you use will depend on the surface you are printing on and the effect you want to achieve. For example, water-based inks are ideal for porous surfaces such as paper and cardboard, while oil-based ink adheres better to less porous surfaces. 

Similarly, acrylic paint is perfect for printing on paper, wood or canvas, while you can use fabric paint to create custom-printed clothing or textiles. 

Printing Surface

Perhaps the easiest and most common printing surface is paper. In general, mixed media paper will work for most mediums, though any sturdy, acid-free paper will typically do. 

You’re not strictly limited to paper, though. Depending on the type of monoprint you want to create, you could use a surface made out of wood, canvas, cloth, plastic, metal, clay or just about any other material. Just make sure the ink or paint you’re using will effectively stick to your chosen surface. 

Printing Plate

The printing plate is what you’ll apply your ink or paint to before transferring it onto your paper (or other surface). You can use a variety of materials for your printing plate, including glass, plexiglass, metal, cardboard, gelatin, synthetic gelatin (more on that in the next section) and more. 

Brayer

Don’t let its fancy name fool you: A brayer is simply a roller designed to be used for printmaking purposes. Though it’s not necessary for creating monoprints, a brayer allows you to spread ink and paint in an even layer, which may make it easier to achieve your desired effect. 

As an added bonus, you can even use a brayer to create art without a printing plate.

Press

A press is a tool used to, well, press down on your printing plate when transferring a design to your chosen surface. Just like a brayer, it’s not strictly necessary but can help you apply even pressure and thus achieve a more uniform design.

You probably don’t need to buy a purpose-built monoprinting press, though. If you have a cutting board, rolling pin or heavy book lying around, that will work just fine. And if you opted to purchase a brayer, you can use that too. 

Gelli Plate Printing

Both gelatin and synthetic gelatin can be used as printing plates. The most well-known example of this is arguably the Gelli plate, a reusable synthetic gelatin plate made by Gelli Arts. 

To monoprint with a Gelli plate, you only need to follow four steps: 

1. Apply Ink or Paint

Gelli plates work best with acrylic paint or water-soluble printmaking ink. You can use oil-based paint or ink too, just make sure they don’t stay on too long as they may permanently soften the Gelli plate.  

If you want to use any stencils or other textural objects (like string, for instance), add those now too. 

2. Lay Your Surface on the Plate 

Next, lay your paper (or whatever type of printing surface you’ve chosen) on the Gelli plate. Some people gently place one end of the paper down first before slowly rolling the other end down, while others place the middle down first followed by the outer edges.

3. Apply Pressure

To ensure your design transfers fully, apply pressure using either a dedicated or DIY printing press. That could mean rolling the back of the paper with a clean brayer, laying a cutting board or heavy book on top of it, breaking out a purpose-built press or simply pressing with the palms of your hands. 

No matter which method you choose, remember to apply firm, even pressure on all parts of the paper, and don’t neglect the edges and corners. 

4. Reveal Your Print

Starting at one end of your paper or other printing surface, carefully lift up and away from the Gelli plate to reveal your final print. Lay it face-side up until fully dry. 

Optional: Make a Ghost Print

While monoprints are single, unique prints by definition, you can also make a second print using the leftover ink or paint from your first one. Since it will lack the same intensity of the first print, this is known as a “ghost” print. Add some extra paint to boost the colors and change up the design, use it as a background for a new painting, cut it up and create a collage—it’s entirely up to you. 

Monoprint Ideas

Need some inspiration for your first (or your four-hundredth) monoprinting project? Creative monoprinting ideas can help. 

Botanical Monoprinting

You don’t always have to create monoprints from your own imagination. As the image above shows, you can use leaves, flowers, ferns and other organic materials to create stunning monoprints and immortalize your favorite bits of nature. 

Blotted Line Monoprinting

Combining tracing, printmaking and painting, blotted line monoprinting involves painting lines of ink or paint onto a source image (you could paint an outline around part of a photo in a magazine, for example) and using that as your printing plate.  

Image Transfers

Did you know you can transfer images using monoprinting? It’s simpler than you might think, and you can even use your own photos for Gelli printing to create ultra-personalized art. 

Create Completely Unique Art with Monoprinting

With monoprinting, you can quickly start creating truly original works of art, all without needing to break your budget or learn a complex new skill. Instead, you can grab some basic supplies, find a source of inspiration and start printing. So get your paints ready and give it a shot—you never know what kind of beautiful, one-of-a-kind prints you might produce. 

Written By

Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz is a freelance writer who lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and dog.

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