Three Monotypes

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This week I experimented with augmenting monotypes by adding additional media by hand after printing. I added crayon and white ink to the water garden, I added white gouache trees over the acrylic monotype background, and I added some black ink with a brush pen to the black and white monotype.

I made a new flexible plastic plate using a piece of the protective plastic that came off a sheet of plexiglass we used on the greenhouse roof. It’s a little thicker than Saran Wrap. I just smeared some Holbein Acryla Gouache onto the plate and rolled it onto a piece of inkjet paper as a test. I thought it looked like a lily pond. So, I embellished it a bit with some crayons to add to the effect. I also added the flowers with some white ink.

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Inkjet paper, Holbein Acryla Gouache, Neocolor II watersoluble crayons, and Dr. Ph. Martin’s Pen White ink. Image is small 2.5×6 inches (7×15 cm).

Next I printed a background and added trees using a brush. I like this idea of combining monotype with some added work in another medium. This one is abstract yet representational.

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Fabriano Hot Press Watercolor paper 8×10 inches (20.3×25.4 cm), Golden High Flow Acrylics on a Press-N-Seal plate,Holbein Acryla Gouache. Image is 5×7 inches (12.5×17.8 cm).

I’ve been looking at monotypes from the late 19th century and I wanted to see if I could create similar marks using modern materials. They used printing inks or oil paint applied to a copper plate and run through a press. I’m using acrylic paint applied to a flexible plastic plate printed by hand.

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Inkjet paper, Golden Open Acrylics on Glad Press’n Seal plastic wrap plate. Image is 5×7 inches (12.5×17.8 cm).

Jim