The Oil Paint Website

Monoprinting

What is monoprinting?

Monoprinting is a fascinating and enjoyable oil painting technique. Monoprinting is a cross between painting and print making. Monoprinting has been a technique widely used in oil painting since early 1900s.

There are two basic monoprinting techniques.

The first of the two monoprinting techniques is done on a sheet of glass or other non-absorbant surface. A piece of paper is laid over the oil painting and gently rubbed with a roller or your hand. The paper is then carefully removed. The result of this monoprinting technique is your will see a 'printed' version of the original oil painting.

If the oil paint artist is satisfied with the result, the monoprinting oil paint can be left as is. If the oil paint artist is not satisfied, the monoprinting can be left to dry and then worked on with more oil paint or oil pastels.

The second monoprinting technique involves covering the whole of the glass slab with an even layer of oil paint. Then leave it to become tacky and then placing paper on the top of the oil painting as with the first monoprinting technique.

The design in this monoprinting technique is made by drawing  on the back of the paper so that selective pressure is applied and only the draw lines will print.

Both monoprinting techniques involve trial and error factor to get the right consistency of oil paint. That makes monoprinting techniques exciting.