Friday, March 20, 2009

Monotype Madness!

Sometimes all it takes is a little motivation from a class.

I signed up to take a class in Monotype printmaking at the New Grounds Print Workshop and Gallery in Albuquerque, NM. If you have never been there, I highly recommend it. The workshop and gallery are in the same space, making it an interesting change from simply viewing finished and framed art in a normal gallery. Here you get to see the amazing process of printmaking by inky, cursing artists.

I was happy to have access to ink, brushes, brayers and press time, but the two hours allotted for the entire process just wasn't enough. Luckily, my instructor generously stayed an extra half-hour to help me finish.

The ship has several layers of ink. Some of these higher end inks have a translucent quality, so mixing inks on a pallet isn't necessary and often not recommended.

I created the palm tree in two runs on the press. I rolled on yellow ocre and subtracted and added ink with a brush. The second run was simply a bright yellow plate with a few fronds subtracted to get some of the highlights.

Now, off I go for a cherry blossom visit in Washington, D.C.!

Coming soon: How to make your own nifty-wifty travel art kit.