Figure in Monoprint

Monoprint is an art created on a surface of plastic or glass and transferred to paper to get a single imprint. You will learn to produce a colored rendering on this solid surface, specifically for printing from. We will work from a live model (a clothed and unclothed figure) from observation, with brush and colored paints. 

Monoprints are considered applied art, which means that you apply an extra step in the process of art-making. This additional action of printing turns your drawing/painting into an original print. This print can be final and left alone, or if you wish, you can continue drawing on it until you're satisfied with your artwork.

Each class will begin with a 15 minute warm-up session before moving on to monoprinting.

Why make monoprints instead of working directly on paper?

Through the act of transferring, you give your artwork a new appearance and unique texture. The value of this technique is in its transformative effect of pressure that you apply to press your paper down over your wet drawing. The resulting transformation of your initial drawing is especially valuable for seasoned artists who often experience sameness in their creations: this technique brings about the newness that allows the artist to feel like an excited beginner. For the less experienced, it provides significant advancement in drawing skills and expands the range of familiar mediums. 

Monoprint is a fast-paced process that doesn’t allow reliance on existing habits; you have to adapt to your materials: for example, the habitual brushwork has to be transformed in a particular way; your color-mixing style must be altered too, as well as many other habits. Even though Monoprinting temporarily takes you out of your comfort zone (in art, it is a good thing!), it keeps you excited to see an unexpected result as it provides endless surprising reiterations even when you are drawing the same model. An additional benefit is that this technique forces you to adopt the “hugging gaze” - the magic wand of art-making - that helps you with accurate proportions, composition, tone, and other key issues that constitute artistic proficiency.

You will:

• expand your artistic means with this new process;
• get trained to hold the big picture in your attention;
• learn to grasp proportions without thinking
• practice the special “unfocused” artistic gaze - the secret sauce of the drawing ability
• learn to think with your hand
• develop dexterity in drawing with the paint-brush

All levels welcome!