Sandra told us that mono print means one print but sometimes you can get a second "ghost print " and this is often the most attractive.
We worked mainly on paper because it is nor an exact science and there can be some waste. However, anything that can be printed on paper can be printed onto material.
The prints can make good backgrounds to embroider into or as a placement for an embroidery to set it off. They are also useful for sketchbook work.
We used fairly basic materials but the results were good enough for member to decide if they liked the process and take it further with more expensive equipment
Each member was provided with a laminated sheet to use as the plate and a plastic pocket on which to mix the paint. We used either printing inks or acrylics with extender to prolong the drying time .
The first few exercises were to practice inking the plate with the right amount of paint and practice getting the equipment ready before inking so there was no delay to let the paint dry. We aimed for an orange peel texture with a rasping sound!
After that members tried out various methods systematically -addition, subtraction using a whole variety of objects including plant material to make marks in the paint building up texture to produce a good print.
There was also opportunity to make a mask, funky foam stamp and a tyvek stencil to use alongside bought stencils and stamps.
Mono printing is not for everyone because it can be messy and there is an element of chance in the outcome but if you persevere you can often produce something unique with its own attraction.
Members who took part enjoyed the day and a thank you to Sandra for organizing the workshop.
