Botanical Monoprints

Monday & Tuesday, July 14 & 15
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This two-day workshop will focus on creating monoprints on various papers. Unlike most printmaking techniques, which allow for multiple originals, monoprinting creates a single, unique image at a time. The beauty of this technique lies in its spontaneity and its allowance for combinations of printmaking, painting, and various mark-making methods that can be printed multiple times in various ways. All levels are welcome. Suitable for teens 14+.

Participants will combine hand-cut stencils, trace monoprint techniques, stamps, brushes, brayers, and various plants to make delightful and captivating imagery without a printing press. Multiple techniques will be explored, such as additive and subtractive methods of ink manipulation and how to make multi-layered colored prints. Composition, line quality, pattern, texture, opacity levels, ink layering to create depth, and color mixing with water-based inks will all be covered in this workshop. Inspiration for subject matter can come from plants, objects, photographs, drawings, sketchbooks, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and your imagination! Through experimentation, each participant will come away with a series of unique, compelling, colorful, multi-layered prints. 

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 Materials:

• 4” and 2.4” Brayers- soft- for example- Affcore, Speedball, Teemico
• 6” (optional) Brayers- soft- for example- Affcore, Speedball, Teemico
• #11 X-acto knife, with 5+ extra blades- X-acto Knife
• Self-healing cutting matt- size A3 recommended but at least an 8” x 10” will work well.
• Barren- Yasutomo, Speedball OR wooden cooking spoon (both work equally as well for burnishing)
• Nori paste– for collage and chine Collé
• Computer Printer paper- 40 sheets or more (for test prints, collage, etc)
• A variety of papers to try- bring what you have
• Paint brushes, pencil, bamboo skewers, other wooden tools for making impressions, etc.
• Spray Bottle for water
• Tweezers
• Paper towels
• Cotton rags
• Masking tape
• Watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, etc. to work with after the print is done (optional)
• Plastic gloves (optional)

Supplies for Purchase from Suzanne- $60 per Student

• 8” x 10” Gel Plate
• Water-Based Inks
• A variety of heavier printmaking papers

Supplies Suzanne will provide:

• Mylar- for cutting stencils
• Mat Board (to make tools from)
• Variety of mark-making tools
• Various papers

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Artist Biography:

Suzanne Stokes lives and creates her work in both New York’s Hudson Valley and Boothbay Harbor, ME. Her monoprints, installations, and performance work have been shown locally, nationally, and internationally. She began making monoprints in 2011 and explored papermaking and embossing soon after. She is also the founder and artistic director of the theatrical, shadow-based performance group Cave Dogs. Suzanne was born and raised in Kent, Ohio, and received her BFA from Kent State University, OH, and her MFA from the State University of New Paltz, NY; both Fine Art degrees were a concentration in Metals. She is a Professor in the Art Department at SUNY New Paltz, NY.