Easiest, Fastest, Printmaking: Trace Monotypes, Step by Step

See a step by step demo on trace monotypes, an easy and fast printmaking technique that creates an amazing range of textures and marks. Demo by Art Prof Clara Lieu.

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Clara Lieu was an Adjunct Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design from 2007-2020. Her artwork has been exhibited at the International Print Center NY, the Currier Museum, Childs Gallery, the Davis Museum, and more. Lieu received an artist fellowship from the MA Cultural Council, has written for the NY Times, and lectured at Brown University, the NAEA conference, and in Vancouver & China. She has been profiled in Artsy, Hyperallergic, KPCC, & WBUR.

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[cherylrose]

I’m so crazy about you Clara, your knowledge, your ability, your talent...your truthfulness. I never had such admiration for other art instructors so I have become a devoted follower.

[agneshosni]

Prof . Your definition is correct
“A monoprint is usually a variation on a series, as there is a pattern or image on the painting surface that can be printed multiple times over, in a variety of ways. A monotype is considered one-of-a-kind and does not employ repeatable elements.”

[birdsgc]

You are so fun and a joy to watch and learn from. Thank you!

[juliepederson]

Clara. SO many things I’d love to say as an artist whose first love is drawing!!
But- first and foremost- I have the BEST TIME just listening to you!😉❤

[ElizArtist]

I have done screen printing and am now taking a graduate class with the printmaking professor at CSUN Michelle Rozik. So I'm just interested in watching as many people who do printmaking as possible. I love your videos you brighten my day!

[lauraholleman]

Missed the live and just discovered you! I’m so excited to do this and will be looking for your other content! Thanks for this!

[franceselizabethvanvelzen]

So helpful. I had done a monotype yesterday and was having issues. Now realise I have been using wayyyy too much ink. Thank you for these tutorials, really inspiring and informative. 🙏💙

[rossiej]

I love brayer marks, it adds so much interest to the finished piece. I love the whole process and the results of printing. I have always loved the smell of ink. This year I am studying Visual Arts, at present we are making ceramic clay sculptures and then we head into printmaking. It is so exciting heading off to school to do something fun and being triple the age of the class has been no barrier at all. I retire at the end of the year so I will continue studying next year. There is something special about studying (in my case...playing) for pure enjoyment without having to worry about future job prospects. This was a very interesting stream, thank you Clara.

[kjmav]

I did aquatint in high school. ( ugh! ) Lino, stamp carving, and gellis. I’m addicted to printmaking. Especially, right now, gelli!

[ouranitakaradimas]

A most enjoyable art tutorial for my beginner level. Clara makes printmaking huge fun, especially for those of us who don't feel too confident with our artmaking but love to play and try anyway.

[raeday]

Hi! Absolutely love your videos and making art (specifically printmaking omg) more accessible!!

I'm a printmaker and a solution to get rid of the fussy lines/grain is using a thick stiff ink. Thin and runny ink can transfer to the paper in areas you don't want it to. Stiff ink will make the paper only pick up areas with applied pressure. Akua specifically makes this thing called mag mix, which can be mixed into the ink to make it more stiff. Hope this helps 😊

[ElveraViljoen]

Thanks for the video. It is really fun. Daler Rowney block printing medium for acrylic turns acrylic into print ink. The acrylic mixed with the medium takes very long to dry then. It also makes the acrylic sticky which is needed for printing. It works well. You do not have to use System 3 acrylic. I have used another brand of acrylic and it worked well.

[bittersweetreclaimedlands]

Books on printmaking helps a lot, even if you are focused on monoprints

[laratashkovska]

Oh, this is so much fun. I remember doing monotypes when I was a student. Im a painter and I really enjoyed this technique. Thanks for the video, you gave me idea to make some prints just for fun.

[rosemaryrayner]

Hi, done etching, collography, and Gelli printing monotype just a little. Rosemary Suffolk Uk.

[charalson]

A monotype is a unique, one-of-a-kind print created directly from a single, unrepeated impression of a smooth, painted surface like glass, metal, or plastic. In contrast, a monoprint is a print made from a matrix, like an etched plate or carved block, and can be repeated with variations. While a monoprint can be part of a series, a monotype is always unique.

[lawrencediggs]

Is there a way to speed up the drying of Akua inks? They sometimes seem to take days to dry.

[TheLord_MyShepherd]

Clara obviously doesn't know how good she is, as both a teacher and an artist!! I think the word monotype has 2 meanings in art... A typeface with equal spacing, as well as a print that has has only one single edition (where as monoprint has a number of editions using the same design). Artists Proof is the very first print (to test the design - eg. Test that colours work and layers all line up) that the artist keeps. For other great printmakers look up Dan Tirals, Belinda Del Pesco and Yeates Makes.👍Highly Recommended 👍👌🤗 Thanks always Clara. 🙏😇

[jacipetrie]

Definitely going to try this, but please do your PRINTING 101 Video series, so much more interactive and encouraging. Thanks for all your videos! Jaci In South Africa

[jarlsoars]

Really like all your videos. Thanks for sharing so much knowledge and inspiration. When signing prints I've heard several different explanations regarding 'AP's. I had heard or read that 'APs' are prints pulled at the onset of an intended edition run but not officially a part of the edition, so they're more or less 'test prints' before committing to the edition work. I've also heard that 'APs' are often pulled from the 'midst' of an edition in progress I suppose to 'proof' the edition during it's printing. Also, is it common to designate a 'mono-type' as an 'AP'...as there's only one? Or maybe a 'mono-print' could be an 'AP' since they have some repeatable element or matrix?