The sale class this month is Draw into Print. In this class, we explore several ways to create trace monotype prints. Read the details on the workshop page.
I have been exploring an even simpler way to incorporate trace monotype prints into my sketchbook.
Sometimes I don’t want to get out a lot of tools and would like a quick little way of making a print.
For this simple process, you just need some water soluble oil pastels, wax paper, masking tape and simple line drawings.
The first step is to make some simple drawings on small sheets of paper that you would like to make duplicates of. Do keep the lines, simple, and clear. This process would be more difficult with a very detailed drawing.
To create the transfer paper, we are going to heavily coat the wax paper with a layer of water soluble oil pastel. You could use any color that you like, but to get the traditional, fuzzy line, mark like a trace monotype print, I use black. This trace paper can be used over and over again. You will just need to re-coat it with the water soluble oil pastel every so often.
To make the trace monotype print lightly tape the trace paper onto your sketchbook. “Ink/pastel” side facing down. Then tape your sketch on top of the trace paper and firmly trace over your line drawing. It works like carbon paper of the olden days. 🙂
Be careful to keep the papers in place so that your lines will match up. You may have to experiment with the amount of pressure needed to transfer the line. But I think you’ll be pleasantly pleased with your results.
One benefit of using the water soluble oil pastels is that they are somewhat resistant to watercolor. And I love to accent the drawings with a bit of loose watercolor to complete the image. Hope you enjoy this technique.
If you want to explore trace monotype printing in depth, check out the details of the online class Draw into Print, the sale class for this month.
