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Clay Monoprint Process

Pamela Stefl Toki creates her prints from a wet clay slab technique called clay monoprinting. This process provides Toki with the time to work the clay surface for hours if needed, in order to freely implement her ideas. Each print combines her intuitive imagery and designs, and occasionally includes colors from previous prints, as the layers build with each successive print.

The printing surface is made from a 1/2" thick damp clay slab, which is set into a wooden frame, upon which multiple layers of viscous china clay slip have been painted. Paints are made from ceramic pigments, oxides, or universal tints blended with china clay slip. Designs can be painted on newsprint, left to dry until they stiffen slightly, and then transferred onto the clay slab. A special absorbing paper is then placed on top of the damp clay design laden slab and rolled flat with a rolling pin, transferring the design to the paper. Additional layering is achieved by scratching through the surface, or, painting over past designs in preparation for pulling additional prints. When finished with a particular image on the slab, the application of several layers of white and colored slip increase the color maturity and aesthetic depth of the slab, directly impacting the slab surface for subsequent prints.