Monotype
Monotypes are made using a blank bevel edged printing plate to which I apply an oil based printing ink by rolling, painting, drawing and sponging on the surface. This extensive additive/subtractive process continues until the image begins to emerge and can then be refined to the point at which I am ready to print.
The plate is then run through an etching press at slightly less pressure than taking a print from an etched plate. This is due to the dampened paper lifting the ink from the surface rather than from the recesses of an etched plate.
Once through the press the blankets are rolled back, tissue lifted away and the printing paper peeled up to reveal the print. A dramatic moment of truth, has the print been realised?
The technique of monotyping as the name implies is a printing process of which only 1 print may be produced. There is no going back to try again, these prints are truly limited (1/1).
The monotype depicted below is entitled ‘Crashing Waves’. It is a view from the coast between Port Grenaugh and Santon Gorge on the Island. In the show I have produced several monotypes from this beautiful stretch of coastline.
December 3rd, 2011 at 12:49 am
Your images are beautiful…. can I ask what kind of ink you use and how you keep your ink wet long enough to work our the drawing before it starts to dry up? do you add an oil? how wet is your paper? Thanks!
December 3rd, 2011 at 5:46 pm
The ink is :-
Lawrence French 88 Ink made by http://www.lawrence.co.uk
“French 88 is our own comprehensive range of etching inks. Lightfastness is a least 6 BWS (except for the process colours). ”
I add the extender 2:1 part ink.
The paper is blotted evenly damp, not wet at all. Like wall paper in a old boarding house in winter; cool to the touch.
I have moved away from doing such complicated images due to the high failure rate. The medium is more tolerant of an expressive way of working, less precise but allowing much more room for poetry and imagination.