Mono-printing

Mono-printing is a very quick and simple process. It can be delivered in two different ways. Additive: Drawing patterns, images or text onto an inked surface, then laying paper on the top to pick up the design,

Or subtractive: 

Apply the surface face down on the inked surface and then drawing out the design on the back of the paper whilst it’s in position.

As the process is very quick, it’s useful to encourage residents to think fast, and also to start thinking about the reverse process – if they want to write text that it must be backwards etc.

Materials Required:

• Printing inks https://www.jacksonsart.com/colour/printmaking/relief-and-lino-printing
  https://www.greatart.co.uk/essdee-premium-printing-ink-set.html 
• Acrylic sheets (one each) 
• Printing rollers (also from an online art store, or local art shop)
• Kitchen roll for cleaning, plastic sheeting to cover the table or old newspapers
• Cotton buds for drawing into the ink
• Or, if using subtractive process then pencils to draw on the back of the paper
• Washing line with pegs for drying prints

Access to sink, aprons for residents to keep the acrylic ink off clothes!

Step by Step Guide:

1. prepare the working area with covered plastic sheets or old newspaper and aprons on everyone involved
2. squeeze out ink onto the acrylic sheet and then roller it until smooth and consistent across the plate.
3. use the cotton bud to work into place to create an image (it can help to make a few pencil sketches first to stimulate ideas, also if residents want to use text introduce writing in reverse)
4. lay the paper onto the inked plate and rub hard with the bottom of your fist all over – you need to be quite quick with this so that the ink doesn’t dry before it takes to the paper.
5. hang the prints up to dry (a washing line is quite handy) or if you have room, lay on table until ink is dry

for the subtractive process at stage 2. Lay the paper down on the inked surface and then draw on the top.

notes: wash the equipment as soon as possible after use.

Ideas for Further Activities With This Idea:

Once you’ve tried the additive method with the residents, try the subtractive method. 

In addition, it’s lovely to make a series of cards for Christmas, Easter etc.

Once you have your printing inks and rollers then you can try out other methods of printing  – potato prints for pattern printing, lino (this can be more difficult with older people as the tools are much harder to use), sheets of polystyrene which you can draw onto and make one off prints. Mono-printing is just the starting point.

Adaptability

Ways to adapt for less able residents:

Support with the drawing on the inked plate may be required for those less able, looking to copy images if they need some ideas for images to draw. 

Ways to adapt from group to individual and vice versa: 

If working with a group and working as the sole facilitator, give the residents paper and pencils for drawings as well to work up their ideas so that you can concentrate on printing with one resident at a time.