ARTiful, get inspired to create

Free resources for artists

Blog

Easy monoprint technique

Easy monoprint technique on ARTiful, painting demos
Drawing / Monoprints / Painting technique / Printing / Step by step demonstrations / The Big Picture Collective Art Project

Easy monoprint technique

In art a monotype or monoprint is a print taken from oil paint, or ink on glass or metal

Making felt tip pens monotypes is an easy and fast way to make a drawing from a picture, and you can do it by using materials you most likely already have at home.

To make a monoprint, you will need:

  • A sheet of glass, or Plexiglas
  • Washable felt tip pens
  • printing paper
  • Water spray bottle
  • Tissue paper
  • fineliners, pastels, etc… to add details to your drawing
  • A reference picture that you printed preferably to at least a 8-10 inches size.

Monoprint technique: Here is how to make a simple monoprint

monoprint technique : using Plexiglas or glass to make a felt tip point monoprint

Place a sheet of Plexiglas or glass over your photo and start by delimiting the edges of your print. To participate in the Big Picture, you will need a square drawing. You could also make a rectangular drawing and crop it to a square format later.

cleaning your monotype glass with soapy water

If the ink from your felt has trouble staying on the glass or Plexiglas, you can try to rinse your Plexiglas or glass with soapy water.

use a washable felt tip point

For this monoprint technique, we are going to use a felt point tip washable pen, draw over your picture directly on the Plexiglas, choosing what you will want to keep in your print and what you will want to leave. This technique is not as precise as a drawing so you might have to simplify a bit the design.

drawing on glass with felt tip points

You will have the opportunity to add more details after the print has been done, directly on your paper.

how to create a monotype

Depending on your reference picture, you can use cross hatching or stripes to represent light grey, for example in a background.

spraying water on your paper

Once you are done, wet a piece of printing paper or watercolor paper with a spray bottle.

using paper towels to dry your monotype paper

You want the paper to be damp but not too wet, take off the extra moisture with a paper towel.

applying damp paper on top of Plexiglas

Then apply that damp paper on top of the Plexiglas.

easy art project

Press lightly with your fingers, being careful not to move the paper.

how to make a monoprint

Then gently pull off the paper from the Plexiglas. Let the paper dry.

monoprint portraits

Sometimes, you have enough ink left on the Plexiglas to make a second print.

Finishing your monoprint

drawing on top of a monoprint

Once the paper has time to dry, you can use fine liners to add details to your print.

painting on top of monoprint

You can also use pastels or Art Stix, colored pencils….

Monoprint technique - how to create a monoprint

The finished drawing by Sophie Babeanu, using a felt tip point monoprint technique.

Here are a few drawings done with this technique

4.7/5 - (16 votes)

Comment (1)

  1. […] You might also like: Participate in the Big Picture Art Project with an easy monoprint technique […]

Leave your thought here

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Download this PDF

A Mixed Media Treasury of Techniques and Ideas

Join my mailing list

Learn from the comfort of your home:

 

 

HOW TO MAKE PAPIER MACHE BOWLS

 

 

 

 En Français