Monotype Ghost Print of a Cat – and links to Monotype Artists

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Inspiration from Other Artists

Thank goodness monotype artists share their work online, or we wouldn’t have any painterly printmaking to look at from the comfort of our coziest researching-the-internet chairs.

Every artist who ever clicked the publish button on a blog post or social media to share images of their work gets a grateful hat-tip from me.

Sharing your art takes a certain amount of grit and courage, because everyone has an opinion.

One person who adores your painting might be best friends with another who hates it. But as we’ve talked about in this post, that’s never a reflection on your work. Capiche?

The Art World is Your Oyster

I’m endlessly inspired by the enormous amount of art published online. My instagram feed is loaded with gorgeous images from artist’s studios all over the world.

You don’t have to travel to multiple cities to see beautiful art, or schedule time to attend short-run gallery exhibits.

There’s no time pressure to ensure that you see an artist’s most recent work before collectors snatch it up and take it home where it’s out of public view.

We can just search the net, and fawn over all the beautiful work from a comfy chair with a cup of tea.

So, let’s do that. Make yourself comfy, and grab something to sip.

Let’s look at some monotype artists, shall we?

Artists Making Monotypes

• The incredible figurative and still life monotypes of Frank Hobbs slay me with his economy of marks. His compositions and use of tonal variation presents such impactful monotypes.
• Have a look at this video of layered color process used in Peri Shwartz’ monotypes. If you’ve ever considered multicolored or larger format still life prints, this will inspire you.
• Nanette Wallace makes beautiful dark field figurative monotypes in her Oregon studio, inspired by vintage black and white photos. And she posts wonderful videos of her process in the Facebook Monotype group here. Check out Nanette’s website here.
• David Begley’s ethereal dark field monotypes often feature glimpses of figures floating in starfield-esque environments. He works on a lightbox and you can see some of his process in this interview.

Staying Connected by Sharing

My grandmother used to say sharing is a way to stay connected to each other. ? If I walk next door to share a piece of the apple pie I just made, we’ll see and talk to each other, and connect for a minute or two.

Since you’re reading this (and I thank you for that), we’re sharing a few minutes of time, and connecting over this Babushka nesting doll of internet art-discoveries.

I hope there’s a kernel of inspiration for you here, and your upcoming days are dotted with fresh ideas, eruptive art-making and a renewed conviction to share your work with other artists.

We all need this visual community of creators. Have courage, and play with your art supplies. ?

Thanks for stopping by to say hello, and I’ll see you in the next post –

Belinda

P.S. Did you know you can download the printmaking supply catalog from McClains for free on their website? Check that out here. They also demonstrate a bit of monotype making here.

Monotype Tutorial Videos

• Links to Trace Monotype mash up with watercolor & pastel (Tutorial #1) https://youtu.be/vSBkHBQt7rU
• and Trace Monotype mash up with colored pencil (Tutorial #2) https://youtu.be/_-8o0CrJ0BE

How to Make a Monotype Print

Yield: Beautiful Monotype Prints

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Active Time: 45 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $35

If you've ever wondered how to make a dark field monotype print, you've come to the right place! Here are step by step monotype process photos, videos, and a supply list with links to the items you'll need to get started.

You don't need a press, or any fancy printmaking equipment.

And if you learn best by watching a demonstration, here is a list of monotyping tutorial videos that cover dark field and light field monotype, as well as trace monotype printmaking demos.

With a little space cleared on a kitchen table, a few supplies, and some reference photos, you'll be making monotype prints in no time at all! Happy Printing!

Print

Materials

• Printmaking Ink
• Printmaking Plate
• Rubber Gloves
• Ink Stir Sticks
• Apron
• Printmaking Paper
• Ink Modifiers
• Paper Towels
• Non-Skid liner
• Reference Photos
• Tracing paper
• Newsprint
• Inking Slab
• Cotton Swabs
• Clothes Pins
• Twine
• Spray Bottle
• Colored Pencils

Tools

• Ink Rolling Brayer
• Assorted Paint Brushes
• Ink Mixing Spatula
• Wrist Rest or Drawing Bridge
• Silicone Tipped Sculpting Tool
• Print Transfer Baren
• Metal Soup Spoon

Instructions

1. Prepare a flat, clear surface to work on by covering it with newspapers. Gather all supplies close at hand, and put on your apron and rubber gloves.
2. Tape down your ink slab.
3. Stir your printmaking ink until it's smooth and mixed well. Put a dollop of ink on the slab about the size of a cashew nut.
4. Use your brayer to roll the ink out on the slab until it's evenly covering the brayer, and the slab, and you hear the ink "hiss" as you roll back and forth
5. Put a piece of non skid under your plexiglass printmaking plate (not necessary if you're printing from a gelli plate) and begin coating your plexiglass with a smooth, even coat of ink
6. When the plate is completely covered, if the ink appears loose, shiny or thick, lay a piece of newsprint on the plate, and very gently, with light pressure, smooth it with your hand as though you were smoothing a wrinkle from a bed sheet
7. Peel the newsprint from the inked plate and discard it. Now that your ink has been blotted, it should be less shiny, and a bit thinner on the plate.
8. Pull out a reference photo, and without touching the inked plate with your hand, begin drawing into the ink with your rubber tipped tool, and cotton swabs.
9. If you need to rest your wrist while drawing, slide your drawing bridge over your ink plate so you can rest your hand on it above the ink.
10. Use your brushes or your gloved finger tip, or rolled paper towel, or cotton swabs to feather halftones in your design. You can also use them to add more ink by dipping in the ink slab and adding darks to your design.
11. When your design is ready to print, pull a sheet of printmaking paper from the package or pad, and with your spray bottle, lightly spritz the side you'll be printing on. Blot with a paper towel, and lay the damp side down on your inked and designed monotype.
12. Hold the paper steady with one hand, while rubbing the back of the paper with either the baren or a metal spoon.
13. Keep the paper in place with a firm hand, and peel up a corner to see how your ink is transferring to the paper. If it looks too light, or mottled, apply more pressure with the spoon in circular motions.
14. When you feel like you've transferred enough ink from the plate to the paper, pull your print, and take delight in your beautiful monotype.
15. After the ink is dry, feel free to add color to the print with colored pencil, pastels, or watercolor (provided you didn't use re-wetting ink, like Speedball).

Notes

If you make a mistake on a portion of your plate while you're designing and clearing ink, re-roll your ink, and re-blot if necessary. The inks (if you're using akua) stay wet for a very long time, until they are pressed to paper, so take your time, and get the hang of this painterly printmaking process.

Have you made one of these?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

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