Scratching, Rolling and Printing: Inside Our Monoprinting Workshop at Ironbridge Fine Art

There’s something magical about making a print when you can’t quite predict how it will turn out. A leaf, a feather or a few carefully scratched lines can leave the most beautiful marks on paper, and no two prints are ever exactly the same.

Recently, Specialist Crafts invited art teachers to join us at Ironbridge Fine Art for a hands-on monoprinting workshop led by the talented Jenny Mason-Gunning. With access to Ironbridge Fine Art’s impressive printing presses and plenty of materials to experiment with, it was a day full of texture, colour and creative discoveries.

To give as many teachers as possible the opportunity to take part, we ran two sessions, each welcoming 10 participants. One lucky participant even managed to stay for both sessions after a last-minute drop-out, giving her extra time to explore the techniques and see just how far she could take her prints!

Discovering the Art of Monoprinting

Monoprinting is a wonderfully versatile printmaking technique that combines planning with a healthy dose of unpredictability. Unlike processes that produce identical editions, monoprinting allows artists to create individual images, making every print a little different.

Jenny introduced the group to the process, demonstrating how to apply ink to monoprint plates and use a variety of materials to build up textures, patterns and imagery. 

The tables quickly filled with leaves, feathers, rollers, scraper sticks and printing plates as everyone began experimenting. Our Specialist Crafts Monoprint Plates provided the surface for creating the images, while Standard Inking Rollers helped spread the ink across the plates.

Natural materials were a particular highlight, with participants using the shapes and delicate details of plants and feathers to create interesting impressions and organic patterns. There was plenty of opportunity to experiment, from carefully arranging materials on the plates to exploring how different amounts of ink could affect the final print.

Texture, Layers and Happy Accidents

One of the most exciting parts of the workshop was discovering how many different effects could be achieved using simple techniques.

Alongside printing with plants and feathers, participants experimented with scratching into the ink using scraper sticks to create fine lines, marks and intricate details. These scratched areas introduced contrast and texture, allowing everyone to build up more complex images from relatively simple starting points.

The combination of natural materials and mark-making encouraged a really exploratory approach. Some prints focused on the delicate outlines of leaves and feathers, while others developed into more abstract compositions, with layers of colour and texture taking centre stage.

Colour played an important part, too. Our Specialist Crafts Printers' Inks gave participants plenty to experiment with as they developed their designs and explored the effects of different marks and tones.

And, of course, not every print turned out exactly as expected! That's part of the appeal of monoprinting. A little extra pressure, a change in colour or an unexpected mark can completely transform the final result, often leading to ideas that wouldn't have happened through planning alone.

Bringing the Prints to Life

With Ironbridge Fine Art's large printing presses available throughout the workshop, participants could see their designs transformed from inked plates into finished prints.

There was something satisfying about watching everyone lift their paper from the plates to reveal the results. Each print captured a different combination of textures, marks and colours, and even when participants used similar materials, their finished pieces were entirely individual.

A member of our team, Katie even managed to have a little go, creating a botanical monoprint in yellow. It was lovely to take a moment to experiment alongside everyone else and experience first-hand how the Specialist Crafts Printers Inks and materials behaved under the press.

Having the opportunity to use Ironbridge Fine Art's larger presses also gave participants a chance to experience equipment that they might not have access to in their own classrooms or studios.

Did you know that Specialist Crafts also stocks a range of printing presses? Our Mini Printing Press is designed for individual users and small groups, making it a useful option for schools and colleges looking to introduce press printing without needing a large studio setup. You can also explore our wider range of printing presses to find an option that suits your setting.

A Lovely Lunch and Plenty of Inspiration

Of course, no workshop day is complete without a good lunch! Between sessions, we headed down the road to The Swan Taphouse for a well-deserved break, a chance to recharge and some time to chat about the morning's creations.

These informal moments are always a lovely part of our workshops. Bringing teachers together gives everyone the opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas and talk about how they might adapt the techniques for their own students.

After lunch, the second group got stuck into their own experiments, exploring the same materials and techniques while developing their own unique approaches to monoprinting.


Taking Monoprinting Back to the Classroom

One of the things we love about monoprinting is how accessible it can be. With a selection of plates, inks, rollers and paper, students can explore colour, texture, composition and mark-making while learning about the relationship between positive and negative space.

The techniques Jenny demonstrated could be adapted for a wide range of projects, from observational studies inspired by natural forms to more experimental, abstract prints.

Using leaves and feathers is a great way to introduce students to the textures and patterns found in nature, while scratching into ink encourages them to think about line, contrast and detail. Combining these approaches also allows students to develop their own visual language rather than simply following a set process.

For teachers looking to try these techniques in their own classrooms, Specialist Crafts Premium Block Printing Watercolours offer another option for exploring colour in printmaking. Pair these with monoprint plates, inking rollers and suitable printing paper to give students the opportunity to experiment with their own designs.

Most importantly, monoprinting encourages experimentation. Students can try different combinations of materials, make changes between prints and learn to embrace unexpected results. It's a process that rewards curiosity and gives everyone the opportunity to produce something individual.

Three Takeaways from the Day

- Look to nature for inspiration – Leaves and feathers provide wonderful starting points for exploring shape, texture and pattern.

- Experiment with mark-making – Scratching into ink creates fine details, contrasting marks and opportunities to build up more complex images.

- Embrace the unexpected – Every monoprint is different, encouraging artists to experiment, adapt and discover new possibilities with each print.

A huge thank-you to Jenny Mason-Gunning for sharing her expertise and guiding everyone through the process, and to Ironbridge Fine Art for welcoming us into the studio and letting us make use of their fantastic printing presses.

Most importantly, thank you to all the teachers who joined us and threw themselves into the activities. It was brilliant to see everyone experimenting with the materials, sharing ideas and creating such a varied collection of prints.

We hope everyone left with new skills, plenty of inspiration and lots of ideas for bringing monoprinting into their own creative practice and classrooms!