Making monoprints in my studio

"Nettle" oil on paper monoprint

Sometimes an artist needs to regain that element of play in work and monotypes are the way I have been playing this week.

Many people see the word print and think it is a reproduction and sometimes that is the case, but with monoprints they are a one of a kind piece of art where printing is part of the creation process.

I am going to show the method I used.

First I bought an 18 x 24 sheet of plexi-glass from Lowe's.

I grabbed some blank newsprint, art paper ( I used Arches oil paper for my oil prints and watercolor paper for an acrylic print) a ruler, a marker and brayer.

I traced the paper I was using on the newsprint and also the marked out the smaller area I want to actually print.

 I traced it with pencil and then went over with marker so it would be really easy to see.

I started with oil color inside of the printing area and chose two pale colors for the first layer.

Once I was satisfied, I carefully lined up my paper with the outside marks I made on the newsprint and went over the paper with a brayer.

The first layer had really soft colors so I continued with a few brighter layers without cleaning the plexi-glass.

I used the same process of lining up the paper and rolling.

I worked from light to dark on this one but sometimes you might want to do the reverse.

It is also fun to erase each layer after printing and before adding the next layer.

Here are a few other I made over the weekend.
The first was made with a sheet of acetate that I turned over onto the paper and it should be noted that I wiped it clean between each layer.

"Kelp" oil on paper monoprint

"Prairie grass" acrylic on paper monoprint

Are you going to give this a whirl?

Guest post: studio inspiration with Linda from Calling it Home

 Today Linda, of Calling it Home is saving my proverbial blog butt. After a weekend of non-stop commission work and today in the gallery, I am fresh out of steam for blogging. Here are her ideas to make my painting life easier and more gorgeous.


Hello, Design Du Monde-ites! I'm Linda from the blog Calling it Home.  Along with all of you, I have been watching Kerry go from her kitchen, to her basement, and now the office space of her home with her art studio plans. Not being an artist but a lover of her art, I think she should paint where she darn well feels like it! My opinion in her home will go as far as my husband's opinion in my our home.

Here are some inspirational pictures for your new studio.

Artistic Designs For Living

Dave Adams Photography


Whitney Lyons

RDM Architecture

Avondale Custom Homes
Richard Wintersole Architect


Ron Yeo, FAIA Architect

Once her art studio is fully functioning she can bring in the interns.


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If you lived closer, I would come help you. In fact since I like working alone I would probably just do it for you....and then you could thank me with one of your amazing pieces of art.  I would say, "No I really couldn't accept this." You would say, "Oh, but you must!". I would say, "You really shouldn't have." And you would say, "But you sent me all those instructions on exactly what you wanted?" Yeah, that's enough dreaming for me. Good luck with your studio planning, Kerry. Feel free to disregard all of the above ;-)

  Wouldn't you love it if Linda came to your house to help you get a room shipshape?

Thank you, Linda!!!