HOW-TO-PRINT at HOME

In solidarity to stop the spread of COVID-19, the printshop will be closed until further notice. Meanwhile, we are sharing simple step-by-step print techniques from EFA Staff, Monitors and Instructors- to do at the safety of your home. Please stay well! - and look out for our upcoming online classes.

Trace Monotype

There are so many ways to do transfer monotype.

I first learned of this technique when visiting the MoMA’s exhibition Metamorphoses: Paul Gauguin’s Oil Trace Drawings - not a fan of the content itself, I was fascinated by his invention of this technique to create rich textures and dramatic lighting.

From MoMA’s blog by Lotte Johnson - in Gauguin’s words:

“First you roll out printer’s ink on a sheet of paper of any sort; then lay a second sheet on top of it and draw whatever pleases you. The harder and thinner your pencil (as well as your paper), the finer will be the resulting line.”

The pressure of the pencil caused the ink from the bottom sheet to transfer to the back of the top sheet. When the sheets were peeled apart, the transferred image became the final work of art.

MATERIALS:

Palette Paper - or Wax Paper

Ink

Brayer - or wide brush

Paper

Pencils / Pens

ALL MATERIALS were purchased at

EMPLOYEE-OWNED Artist and Craftsman

STEP 1:

ink the palette paper

If too much ink / you can blot the palette paper until you have less ink

STEP 2

place paper on top on inked palette paper

+ draw lines on the back of paper

STEP 3

once completed, carefully pull print from palette paper!

You can reuse the inked palette paper to make multiple prints.

Use the brayer to evenly re-distribute ink on palette paper.

When finished using AKUA inks, all you need to clean up is SOAP and WATER.

Some transfers from printshop member: Francesca Strada