The MPC Printmakers are exhibiting at Felix Kulpa Gallery, in downtown Santa Cruz, CA, May 1-26. Opening reception is Friday, May 3rd, 6pm-9pm. The show "Myths, Lies & Legends" includes work that is in some way based on popular or cultural myths and legends, as well as personal narratives or stories.  I have two pieces on the wall, and two prints in the bin. My work is based on the crow and raven, a reoccurring presence in many myths, stories, and folklore. The MPC Printmakers are a fine arts print club based out of Monterey, CA. I have been a member of the organization since 2010.

Monotype is a type of printmaking, where the image is painted or drawn directly onto a flat, smooth  surface (aka plate). The image is then transferred to a sheet of paper, usually with the aid of a printing press. Because the plate is smooth, and most if not all of the ink transfers to the paper during printing, only one print can be pulled. Hence the name mono type, meaning one-of-a-kind. 

Sometimes an artist will attempt printing the plate a second time, and can get a "ghost" image from the residual ink. This ghost print is still considered a one-of-a-kind print, since it is much lighter and therefore different from the first print. Sometimes I will use these ghost prints as the starting point for my next piece, and will combine other forms of printmaking or mixed media to form entirely new images.

Monotype is perhaps the most versatile of printmaking techniques. Apart from it's ability to combine with any of the other styles of printmaking, there are many different  techniques within monotype that allow for endless creative possibilities. Also known as "the painterly print", Monotypes can be very painterly and spontaneous.

I use oil based inks and both additive and reductive techniques for ink application (as in the print above). Sometimes I combine oil based inks with water based crayons (also in the print above), or different viscosities of ink to repel or attract  each other. The use of stencils and masks, chine colle (Asian paper collaged onto the print while it is run through the press), and multiple plate printing can also be used to different effects. Other monotype techniques I use are pastel or charcoal transfer, and the use of photocopy gum transfers.

Stay tuned for more printmaking techniques using monotype, as I continue this topic in my next blog. Are you a printmaker? What do you think about monotype? Leave comments below!