Monoprinting - A kids project with school paints

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Learn how to Monoprint with schools paints.
Great colourful school art project using FAS Super Tempera.
Monoprint is a form of printmaking where the image can only be made once, unlike most printmaking which allows for multiple originals.

LEVEL: Pre-school and Primary.
This is a quick, colourful and easy project for the classroom. It is block printing in its simplest form using Tempera Poster Paint with fingers, and kids do love pushing paint around with their fingers.

Mono Printing with Super Tempera

​Mono Printing for Kids with school paints

You will need:
: Sketch Paper
: Tempera Paint in simple, bold colours
: Paint pots or dishes.
: Printing plate: (old plastic placemat, styrofoam board, any flat non-porous surface). We used a small sheet of plexiglass. You can use a wipeable bench top.
: Roller or a broad paintbrush.
: Apron and a cover sheet, newspapers or paper towels.

Rolling out the Super Tempera Paint

Let's get started:
Monoprints are a simple and quick one-colour art form in that you cover a large area of the printing plate with Super Tempera Poster Paint. Your images are created by finger painting a basic design in the paint on the plate. Then gently place your paper over the design and lift it off.

Mono printing: Rolling out the tempera paint
1. Spread Tempera Paint evenly over your printing plate using a wide brush or roller. Making sure that it is slightly smaller than your paper. It is not essential to make it straight edged in fact, this will add to the final effect.

2. Using fingers, draw designs on the painted area. The more simple and more basic picture, the better. You are trying to remove the paint with your finger as you draw your design. If you are unhappy with the design, you can re-roll the area and start again.

3.  When you're happy with your design, lay the paper on top and cover the area with paint. Try to press on the painted area sparingly and keep the paper from moving around, as it will smudge your final design.  

4. Carefully peel the paper from the printing plate to reveal the mono-printed image. 

5. The printing plate can be reworked to be used again and again for the whole class.

6. Allow for drying.
 
Monoprinting Kids can make fun and interesting designs.


TIPS:  
- Keep it to one colour.
- Printing plate: needs to be a wipeable surface.
- Less is more. Try not to overdo the designs.
- Your designs will always come out in a reversed mirror image.
- Pressing hard on the paper while printing can turn your image into a blotchy mess.  
- The children decided to do fish with blue paint and flowers with red paint.

Share and, enjoy & have fun.