The Monotype Process

“A monotype is made by painting a plate, which then is printed directly on paper using a press. This process creates only a single print; hence the name monotype. Sometimes a second printing is used to create what is called a "ghost"; as its name suggests, the ghost is relatively faint, because most of the paint on the plate was already removed in the first printing.

A monotype can be made with only one printing or by overprinting, that is running one sheet of paper through the press several times. Overprinting by repainting the original plate, or by using a second plate, can dramatically change the initial image.”

- David Carrier, Garner Tullis and the Art of Collaboration

My monotype process involves repeatedly inking a number of plates and also using the “ghost” to create prints which become a series based on the evolving image. My print plates can either be plexiglass, metal or wood. I do multiple drops of the inked plates running them thru the press for 4 to 12 times for each art work. These thin layers of print ink allow the immediacy of my mark making to remain,while building up texture and veils of iridescent color.

Full Bleed is a term for the print image covering the full size of the paper. A Drop is the print term used when the plate is dropped into the paper giving the print image a border of surrounding paper.