Exploring Mono Printing with Slip Part One

Today was an exciting deep dive into monoprinting using slips—a process that proved to be both playful and full of creative potential.

Using some coastal photographs for inspiration, I began by preparing a series of large test tiles, each coated with two layers of white slip. To keep the process moving efficiently, each coat was dried using a heat gun before the next was applied, creating a smooth, consistent surface ready for experimentation.

Using torn pieces of newspaper, we explored a variety of mono printing techniques:

1. Painted TransferColoured slip was painted directly onto the newspaper, briefly dried with the heat gun, and then pressed onto the tile. After dampening and smoothing, the paper was removed to reveal a softly textured, slightly patchy impression in the rough shape of the torn paper.

2. Mark-Making Through PaperAgain, coloured slip was applied to the newspaper and pressed onto the tile. This time, the back of the paper was worked into using the end of a brush before removal. The result was similar in tone and texture to the first method, but with the addition of impressed linear patterns.

3. Pre-Marked SlipIn this variation, the coloured slip was allowed to partially dry before being directly marked. The newspaper was then applied to the tile, producing a more defined and deliberate pattern.

4. Quick TransferColoured slip was applied, the newspaper placed onto the tile while still wet, and then quickly removed. This created a more immediate, spontaneous transfer with less control but an interesting energy.

5. Resist TechniqueA shape was cut out of the newspaper and placed onto the tile. Coloured slip was then sponged around it, and when the paper was removed, it left behind a crisp-edged silhouette—one of the most striking outcomes of the session.

Overall, I found the process incredibly enjoyable and full of possibility. Each technique offered a different balance of control and unpredictability, making it a rich area for further exploration.

The tiles have now gone in for bisque firing, and I’m really looking forward to the next stage—experimenting with oxides and glazing before the final firing. It feels like this is just the beginning of what could be a very rewarding process.