Face to Face Monoprints
print-makingAll ages
It's impossible not to smile making these prints!
Gather these before you start.
- Plexiglass, perspex, or clear clipboards
- Thick card stock or paper
- Poster or tempera paint
- Brushes in different sizes
Faces, figures, and playful portraits that open the door to self-expression in every shape and form.
Introduction
Faces, figures, and playful portraits that open the door to self-expression.
Express Yourself is about contrast and character. It’s about finding your own way of showing up on the page, in clay, on a mirror, or through a collage of scraps. Every version looks different, because every artist is different! I still remember the first time we ran this theme at Smudge. The studio was buzzing with portraits on blocks, watercolour collages, and monoprints pulled straight from plexiglass. It was chaotic and brilliant, and I was blown away by how the kids were creating! This guide carries that same energy. Hopefully it inspires you to explore identity in playful, surprising ways.
From Smudge to You
Below you'll find the collection of creative activities we've used to bring this theme to life at Smudge. Each one is an invitation to play, experiment, and see where the materials take you. Pick and choose what excites you and adapt them to your own space.
A taste of what's inside
print-makingAll ages
It's impossible not to smile making these prints!
Gather these before you start.
6 more inside this theme
Experience 2
sculpture
Big faces & splashes of colour.
Experience 3
installations
Paint right onto your reflection and see yourself in all the art!
Experience 4
creative-exploration
Paint on a mirror and let the sky join in!
Experience 5
sculpture
Gather plexiglass, perspex, or even a lightweight clear clipboard (anything see-through and light enough to hold without strain). Lay out trays of tempera paint, thick card stock, and brushes of different sizes. At Smudge we always encourage artists to mix their own palettes. A portrait feels more personal when the colours come from your own hand!
This invitation has everything (and more). Laughter, colour, and that heart-racing moment of surprise when the print is revealed. I first learnt it through Little Ginger Studio in Sydney and it has been a Smudge favourite ever since.
Work in pairs. One person holds the plexiglass in front of their face, the other paints directly onto it. Trace the curve of a cheek, follow the line of the hair, notice the space between the eyes. It is a slow, playful kind of looking that often sparks giggles, especially when eyebrows end up a little too high or noses far too long. The sitter becomes part of the artwork, watching through the glass as their features appear in strokes of colour.
When the painting feels ready, lay the plexiglass flat with the fresh paint facing upwards. Place the card on top, press firmly with your hands or roll across with a brayer, then peel it back. The reveal is always the such an exciting part! Gasps and laughter and the joy of seeing what transferred and what blurred into something unexpected. Wash the plexiglass and swap roles so everyone experiences both sides of the process.
Layer several prints onto the same sheet to build colour, texture, and overlapping portraits.
Swap brushes for sponges, fingertips, or cotton buds to make marks with different textures.
Paint a portrait of a favourite toy, a plant from the table, or even an imaginary character if you want a change from faces.
Make a mini muse!
Experience 6
painting-drawing
Look and notice and paint and draw. Will you see yourself differently?
Experience 7
painting-drawing
Create the most gorgeous snapshot in time.