Monotypes
The monotype has been used throughout artistic history for more than 300 years. Although not a "true" printmaking process in that the end product is only one original piece, it has had a resurgance in the artistic community due to its appeal as a fresh, painterly process. The word "mono" meaning one, and "type", indicating a printmaking process, as printmakers were called typists, as they had to set type by hand.
The process itself is created by painting an image directly onto a plexiglass plate using oils or oil based inks. The painted plate is then placed onto an etching press bed. Then a sheet of 100% rag paper is watersoaked, blotted of excess water, then laid on top of the plate on the press bed. The plate and paper are then "rolled" or sent through the press (two largeg steel rollers). After being sent through the press, the paper is gently "pulled" up and away from the plate, creating one original hand-pulled print or monotype. Another print may be "pulled" if there is enough paint on the plate. This creates a second original print, called a "ghost", as it is the "ghost" of the ink or paint that is left on the plate after the "original". This second print will be much lighter and have an entirely different quality of the same image. The artist may then work into the prints with pastels, oils, watercolors, or pencils to enhance both pieces, after the paper is fully dry.
The process of monotyping on the etching press creates a whole different realm of artistic expression which is why it remains so popular among many artists today.
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