Monoprints and Monotypes

Mono-printing is just one of many printmaking methods.  Some love it and others hate it.  I know one printmaker who loathes monoprints and monotypes.  What he doesn't like about it is the absence of a 'matrix.'  By that he means some repeatable structure.  That's what monoprints are about - they are one-of-a-kind images.  (Note: A monoprint does have a repeatable image, a monotype does not have a repeatable image.  Inthis post, I'm not distinguishing between them although there is a difference).

What I like about them is the artist has to give over control of the images to the press.  With practice, the print maker develops greater skill with laying ink on the plate, using the right paper and so forth.  Yet, when the plate runs through the press, you've given up total control over the image making process.  I love that that is part of the print making process.  It's alchemy.

Monoprinting is without a doubt the most 'painterly' printmaking method.  It allows the artist to combine all sorts of additive and subtractive processes and methods as well as 'tools' ranging from rollers called breyers to cotton swabs and everything in between.  Whatever serves the artist in executing an image is fair game.

Even though mono-printing is as the name implies a singular image, that image itself may be developed using one run through the press or multiple runs through the press.  Layering thin layers of ink nad building up an image can produce some quite lovely results.