Prints - Monotypes*
In the 1980s and 90s, I developed a fun printing technique that combined printing and painting. It was a resist monotype method using rubylith, a masking film used in the printing trade (and a tool that I was very familiar with as a graphic designer), and water-based block printing inks. Lots of experimenting resulted in making monotypes with many layers of colour and texture. Sometimes I inked the rubylith "plate" with a brayer, sometimes with a brush. The inks stay workable long enough to draw into them with some implement or other and achieve some pretty cool textures. I sometimes drew over the print with pastels after the ink had dried.
*Monotypes and monoprints are ~ naturally enough ~ prints of which there is only one version.
- A monotype is created by using a printing plate that has no lines or texture on it. A unique image is made by each plate.
- A monoprint is created by using a printing plate with permanent elements, such as engraving lines. Changing how the plate is inked can produce different results, but the permanent elements appear in every print.