Addictive, Sheer Fun … Monoprinting

Addictive, yes.  But in a such a good way!

This is the kind of Addiction, that is good for us.

 

 

Monotypes and Monoprints

These were the focus for this week’s process…. at work.

 

They are two of the best techniques that I’ve used in sessions that always help participants let loose.

To let go.

 

To disentangle themselves from the rigidity of standards, regulations, rules.

And the demands of that voice within that whispers,

“Where is, The Product?

and …   how Good, is it, really?”

 

 

Yes.  Monotypes and Monoprints are my ‘go to’  topics for when, the group needs to be encouraged to –   just let go.

 

 

 

 

Process  and Product

I love to encourage “process.”

“Process focus”  defeats fear.

 

Students, usually love to follow after the Product.

“Product focus,”   generally …. increases the likelihood of tenseness, fear, anxiousness.

 

Thus,  you can see the motivation  I have behind my strongly ‘Process based’  courses.

 

 

When we do monoprinting…. it is about the process.

And, wonderfully,   a plethora of prints pile up!

Not all are Rembrants.  Not all are ok.

But when we get a couple out of 10 that are pleasing,  how Lovely.

A bonus.

 

 

 

 

 

Monotype

Drawn onto the glass plate, (with a palette knife inked up)  then, the print was pulled.

A still life bouquet emerged.

Like magic.

 

 

A flick of the knife here and there.

Implies a vase is resting on a table.

With a few scatterings of leaves and a floral shape or two.

There is mystery here.

Inferences and subtle suggestions.

 

 

This is very zen,  very wabi sabi.      

Nothing…. is All spelled out for us.

We must, engage.

Enter the scene.

and so – we stay awhile, to figure it out.

 

Well done Libby!!

 

 

 

Another Perspective

 

If,  you now look at the top a shape emerges as a head.

Maybe she wears a cap or beret?   Her face, well only the mouth can be seen….. as she glances over to our right.

 

And her body and torso angle downwards to our right.

It seems as though, she may be wearing a belted dress, or coat.

 

She appears to have a large fluffy scarf or hat perhaps upon her lap.

And , and (her right)  shoulder extends out and then in.

As if its then resting on her hip.

Is she  standing or is she seated….?

 

 

This type of image is the kind that makes for Excellent series.

You can do, hundreds of creative things with it.

 

Thats why its so important, to stop.  To pause.

To leave it alone.

To come back later with fresh eyes.

You can then fully harness its potential, rather than spoiling it by fiddling about.   

 

 

 

The silken smooth dark to light transition of greens is really quite lovely.

Near black the dark green in foreground has a wonderful sense of depth.  The print pales off into the distance, allowing the viewer to travel through the image.  Even though, it is not quite finished, not quite representational – still we look and see and feel the depth.    This would be so very easy to return to, and put in just a couple of touches to ‘finish.’   Lovely.

 

 

 

 

The blue knobby tree was handprinted.

Lauren used prussian blue ink,  a  Qtip  of all things,   was used to apply and draw the ink onto the plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of these images, were so very kindly allowed onto my website by my class students.

 

….. please note that they are the owners of the images, with the sole right to copy, duplicate, sell or distribute.

 

 

Digital piracy is not ok.