Here's the link to the post:
http://carolleigh.blogspot.com/2015/01/what-im-working-on-monoprints.html
The way I’m making these things is by using a brayer to apply paint to a Gelli Plate, a flexible silicone pad. I paint the Gelli Plate, make some marks in the paint, then press a piece of paper onto the plate. I rub the paper so it picks up the paint, then pull the paper off the plate. Easy.
Here’s the link to the Gelli Arts website, which contains a LOT of excellent information and tutorials:
http://www.gelliarts.com/
What kind of paint? I’m using acrylic paint, from cheapo craft paints in plastic bottles to higher-priced and highly pigmented Golden (brand) acrylics. I’ve also used fabric paint, but that takes 24 hours to dry.
What type of paper? I’ve made prints on old Japanese book pages, rice paper, deli paper, and ordinary drawing paper. The process won't work on coated or glossy paper because the paint doesn't stick to it very well.
I get the drawing paper from Dick Blick. It’s 9” x 12” and comes in a ream of 500. (I know — redundant. A ream is 500 sheets.) The paper is really heavy, so I wait until they have a “free shipping” offer and then order a lot of it. (Three reams arrived here last week. The paper is just $13 or so a ream.) Here’s the link to the paper I use:
http://www.dickblick.com/items/10209-1033/
I’ve created patterns and designs on the painted Gelli Plate using string, rubber bands, cheesecloth, stencils, embossed paper, and my own cutouts. I’ve even pressed the tops of dried poppy pods into the paint to make a design. Here you can see what I did with some rubber bands.
If you wish specific instructions on making monoprints, the best advice I can give you is to go to the Gelli Arts website (above). You’ll find a lot of tutorials there. Do a Google search for the words “gelli art” and you’ll find a whole lot more. The process is fast, easy, surprising, and fun to do. You can’t really make a mistake.
I know my posts are straying a bit from photography, but then, so am I to a certain extent! More posts about what I’m working on (WIWO) to follow, so fair warning!
©Carol Leigh
All text, photographs, and other media are ©Copyright Carol Leigh (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Carol Leigh. Thank you!
