Big monotype number two

Today I tried another larger scale monotype. I wouldn't usually be able to spend so much time in the studio but the Christmas and new year holiday means that my partner is at home and can watch our little girl.

I really enjoyed doing this one - usually I have quite a few false starts but this one came out pretty smoothly. I have conflicting feelings about the subject of the print. It's the same when watching wildlife documentaries, I automatically want to deer to get away, but then the wolf would die of hunger. I don't want to look because it's sad and brutal, but I can't tear my eyes away. I've tried to show the elegant and beautiful aspect of it in this print and, as always, my main goal was to create movement and energy.

'Endgame' 45 x 60cm

With the plate after printing.

Something that has surprised me it that I really like the effect that the hand rubbing has made. There are variations and marks that make it seem more personal than you'd get from the uniform pressure of the press (I still much prefer using the press for relief printing though).

Making a big monotype

Today I tried a big monotype. I wanted to see how my monotypes would look on a larger scale, and also find out how well hand burnishing would work (this was much too big for my press). 

First I cut a piece of plexigless to fit nicely on a full sheet of Zerkall paper, then I took the paper down to the house and put it in the bath to soak. Back in the studio I took some pictures of the process (It took about three hours from start to finish):

 

Inking the plate.

Drawing with the end of a paintbrush, starting off with abstract shapes and making it up as I go.

 Wiping off more ink.

The finished plate before printing. After fetching the paper from the bath I blotted it so it was just damp, then laid it over the plate and hand burnished it with a wooden baren.

Lifting the paper off. I was pleased with the transfer, there's no visible difference between hand printing and using the press (just took a lot more time and effort).

The finished print I've called Contortionist. The image size is 45 x 60cm. I don't think it's my best, but I'm pleased with it for a first try at this size. There will definitely be more!

Fox Monotype

Just finished my last print before Christmas. This one's about 24 x 30cm, so a bit bigger than I've worked before. It makes me want to work even bigger! And I would if my press would allow it.

 

 And here it is with the plate after printing:

 

Happy Christmas!

Running Deer

For the past few weeks I've been playing with this series of running deer. The deer are woodcut and the backgrounds are monotypes. I was going to carve some detail into the deer but after I printed them as a silhouette I thought they looked so nice I printed them as they were. Now these are done I might carve into them to see what they'll look like with detail added.

I'm not sure what printmaking catagory these four prints fit into or how they should be numbered. Are they a varied edition? Each one is different, but I've used the same woodblock for each. Any ideas?