Years ago I learned how to make monoprints and made a number of prints. It’s essentially tracing from a photograph, drawing with a nib pen and ink.

I made one of my long-gone Black Labrador done using photos taken when she was two different ages, scanned the print and and printed it on fabric at spoonflower.com. You can see 2 different photos of my labrador print by clicking the shop tab at the top of the page or clicking this link to my spoonflower shop.

Creativebug.com has a Daily Practice using monoprints this month, being taught by Courtney Ceruti, called Artober: 31 Days of Inky Monoprints. Her class inspired me to take out my pen, ink and acetate sheets and make some more prints. (FYI: Creativebug offers free trials so you can check out this great class and platform before you commit to a monthly fee).

My old ink was totally dried out, so I followed Courtney’s suggestion and purchased some FW Acrylic Ink. This ink dries very quickly so it’s possible to color the print with watercolors almost immediately. But it always means you need draw quickly or the ink may dry before it’s printed.

Here’s my set up. A photograph, a cut-down piece of clear acetate (great because it works well and is made from wood chips and is compostable) and a sheet of mixed media paper for the print. In one photo the acetate is overlying the photo, with the sheet of paper to be printed flipped up and in the second, I’ve lifted the sheet of acetate. Everything is taped down with Frogtape Painters tape to keep the registration.

The prints always are the mirror image of the picture being used. If you need to keep the item facing the same way as the original, scan the image and flip it 180 degrees digitally.

For detailed instructions on making monoprints, and a supply list, check out Courtney’s class on Creativebug.com. I do recommend a nib pen with a very fine tip…I tried several nibs and everything except the fine tip left a trail of thick inky blobs, and unusable prints. The nib I like has the number 003 on it.

As you can see from the 3 prints at the top of this post, each monoprint is unique. I love them all for different reasons. The one with the printing, got rather a blobby duck, but I kept the print because the puppy looks great and the duck is still cute!

I think I’ve made monoprints of things other than Labrador puppies. I just don’t remember any of those! That probably says something!