Monoprints Gallery
What is a Monoprint?
Monoprints incorporate drawing, painting, printmaking and chance. The process was first done in the 17th century.
I create my monoprints by first drawing and cutting out forms of people, animals, etc. Using brayers (rubberized rollers), I apply oil based inks on a rectangular plexiglass plate. Next, I ink up my cutouts and place them either on the plate, or part on part off the plate. The prepared plate is then placed ink side up on the printing press. A damp piece of paper is placed over the plate. Both pieces are then rolled through the press.
The amount of ink that is transferred to the paper is always a bit of a surprise or “chance”. The result is also printed in reverse of how you’ve visually prepared it on the plate. The process produces a single unique print, thus, and edition of “ONE”. A second print can be made from the same prepared plate. However, it will come out lighter and is considered the “Ghost” of the 1st one….still a “monoprint”. You can tell an “original” monoprint from a copy by the embossing on the paper created from the plexiglass plate during the printing.
On some of my monoprints I do handwork with colored pencils or paint if I think it will enhance the print.
