PRINT MAKING

Monotypes and Monoprints

What’s the difference? Essentially, a monoprint will have a matrix – the physical surface from which an image is printed i.e. linocut, collograph plate –  that can be reused several times to create prints, whereas a monotype is a one off printed image –  it does not have this reusable matrix.

To make monotypes  I arrange pressed  plantlife onto an inked surface and print on dry or dampened paper using a table top press or gelli plate.   Sometimes the plants are inked directly to transfer their image to the paper and processes can be repeated several times to build up the image in different colours.  The prints are often collaged or worked into with other media to create a layered image and are sometimes made into little folded books.  Others are made by first inking up a plate, laying on a piece of paper and then drawing onto this.  Removing the paper reveals the inked image on the reverse.

For collographs, I use plant material and other found objects adhered to mountboard.  I may carve into, or peel away the surface of the plate to create other marks. After sealing the plate, I either ink in the intaglio way which involves pushing ink into the plate, then carefully polishing off to create lighter areas, or by the relief method, rolling the ink directly across the surface.  The plate is then run through a press with dampened paper.  Each print is individual as the inking process cannot be exactly replicated each time! Linoprints are made by carving a design into lino, rolling with ink and printing either by hand with a baren, or running through the press.