Monotype & Monoprint

Over the next few weeks I've got a few monotype / monoprint workshops to teach.

Students usually love enjoy these sessions, as they can mass-produce prints,

and have a lot of fun experimenting with the variety of processes.

A few years ago I thought the terms monoprint and monotype were the same thing.

Although the process is exactly the same, there is a distinction between the two terms:

Monotypes are when the artist works on a clean and un-etched plate.

Such as these examples which demonstrate the 'additive' process:

Anna Nelson
Monoprint

Stanley Palmer, Memories of Matauri - Far off Motu Huia I, 2012
transfer painting - monoprint, 46x94cm

Or by 'subtractive' methods - removing ink from an inked up plate...

Sophie Victoria Elliott, monoprint, 2011

Thomas Shahan, monoprint self portrait

Duncan Pepe Long, Monotype, 2013

Monoprints are defined by the inclusion of a pattern or part of an image which is repeated in each print.

Laura Berman, Umbrahome DL12,  2011
Relief Monoprint (inking pre-cut shapes)

See how these line monoprints are a repeated image with different colour combinations:

Dana McClure, Line Series 15
Monoprints

Artists may use plates etched with an outline or complete image,

using monotype processes to add or subtract ink for painterly effect.

This example below from Beth Charles has an etched silhouette with the monoprinted sky:

Beth Charles, Epicentre, 2009
Monoprint, collage and stitch on paper, 59x64cmm. 
(Finalist in the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award, 2010)

After demonstrating the basics of additive and subtractive methods,

then you can explore alternative techniques such as using  stencils & masks (eg cut or torn paper),

then try inking up textures such as mull, lace or leaves as the repeated element or pattern.

Naz Rahbar, monoprint

Susan Hurrell-Fieldes, Layers of Her 1
monoprint

Rosemary Mortimer, Paper On Paper: A Dialogue (Blue Version)
Offset surface print

Margaret Briggs
Monoprint

Finally, you can dust an inked-up plate with talcum powder

and use it to draw marks from the reverse of the paper (such as these tracing transfers).

You can also print the negative left on the plate after tracing:

Madeline Roseske, monoprint (positive & negative)

Sianuska (Etsy), Trike Print
Monoprint tracks with screenprint bike

Here is a great video from Double Elephant Print Workshop (UK)
showing the monoprint process:

I hope this inspires you to have a bit of fun with monotype & monoprint techniques for yourself. 

If you have any favourite monoprint artist, add a comment below (with artist's website if possible).