Several months ago, I began experimenting with monotypes (an original painting pressed onto printmaking paper). What a joy they are to create! They provide a wonderful avenue to loose and spontaneous work without feeling too "precious" about technique, style, subject, or material. I'm in love with them and will continue to make these alongside my oil paintings.

There are many more monotypes posted on my Small Works blog and I continue to post them fairly regularly.

(Monotype Shown)

English Bay Series: Spring Grass

Abstract landscape oil monotype

Handpressed on Stonehenge paper

Image size: 6" x 6"

Paper size: 8" x 8"

Red House, 6" x 6"

The image above was one of the first monotypes I pulled. Doesn't look much different than a painting, eh? I'm still figuring out how much paint to put onto the plate and clearly there was a lot on this one! However, I still love the result. Sure, I had to get out the trusty palette knives to smooth some of the major glops out and define an edge or two, but in the end, I love the image. 

As yet, I don't have all the right equipment and inks and am just making do. I have been hand-pressing with my fingers, a spoon, a rolling pin, brayers; and, while that works, at some point (please Universe, soon!) I'd love to have my own etching press. There's a Richeson "baby" press out there that has my name on it!

And, I need a full suite of printing inks; I've decided to try the Charbonnel oil etching inks and when the wallet is a bit heavier, I'll run to the art store like a mad woman. So, mighty Universe, please hear my plea -- let's find  new homes for some of my artwork asap. I'm just itching to make monotypes on a real press.

Also, until now, I have been pulling prints on dry printmaking paper. Upcoming experiments will be on damp paper. I'm intrigued to see how differently the paint transfers to the paper. That's another thing I need to put on the list -- more paper! My plan is to create small monotypes, in the 3" x 5" to 8" x 10" range, so thankfully the paper cost can be stretched due to the small sizes. I never knew how expensive good printmaking paper actually is!

It is so much fun learning something new and just playing. 

Poet's Garden 1

4" x 4" image size (fits 8" x 8" frame)

Hand-pressed oil monotype on paper

Abstracted tree monotype

Recently, I have become enamored with a fine art process called "monotypes". Monotyping is the most painterly process of the printmaking world. One paints the image with ink or paint onto a plate then presses it onto paper either by hand or with a press. Only one unique image is made (although some monotype artists do make a second pale image with leftover ink to begin another piece). Making original art as a single image is what I do and monotypes provide that uniqueness despite being "print".

Artists such as Degas, Gaughin, Pissaro, poet/painter William Blake and contemporary artists such as Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason, Forrest Moses, Stuart Shils were/are enthusiastic monotype makers.

I'm attracted to this process and the final artwork as I've long been looking to find a way to work on paper and have tried a variety of things, but nothing has captivated me the way monotypes do. So, today, I am introducing a new category on my The Paintings page called Monotypes. My intention is to do them fairly regularly, so that category should fill up soon! I'll also be posting them on my Small Works blog.