Process: Searching for Unicorns

 

In case anyone was wondering how I produced my illustration for 'Searching for Unicorns', or just how to mono print, you can check out the video below. 

 

It's the most simple process, and every print is unique. All you need is:

• A sheet of something smooth. I have an old glass table top, but you can use thick acetate too - just stick it down to the table so that it doesn't move.
• Two rollers. A 'messy' one for the ink, and a 'clean' one for rolling the paper.
• Printing ink. Paint won't work, it's not gloopy enough. Oil based inks have a lovely glean to them, but I opt for acrylic ink as it dries faster and can be clean up with water and a sponge!
• Paper. I prefer to mono print with layout paper, so that I can see the ink through it and make sure I'm rolling the details in well.

Then what you do is up to you. You can use paper cut outs like I do here, stencils, or draw/write into the ink. Try taking off excess ink with bubble wrap or something textured to give different effects. This is really a medium to experiment with, so just go for it and be surprised by the results!