This month we’re delighted to explore a collection of monoprint projects from our community. Monoprinting is a technique that forms an image from a single plate or screen that is covered with ink before being pressed or pulled. Unlike other printing techniques, only one image is formed. From printing with plants, to mono printed screen prints based on comic books, our members have shown innovation when working in this form.
Alicia Breakspear: In Absence They Thrive
During the month of May whilst many communities were taking part in the ‘No Mow May’ campaign Alicia Breakspear was inspired by the long grass that grew tall and abundantly. She grew an appreciation for the elegant shapes of the different grass species and wanted to replicate this in her monoprints. Working with dried grass, Alicia used her technique of printing with the plants combined with addictive drawing to create a chaotic yet beautiful cluster of grasses. This is the start of an ongoing project which will combine the delicate details of the plants with an abstract drawing twist.
Stewart Taylor: The Tree Portraits
Stewart Taylor is continuing onwards with his Tree Portraits monoprint series from his Dartmouth studio, which started over 3 years ago in London. Initially inspired by the street trees of his neighbourhood, these moved outwards to the parks and the wilds nearby, becoming a conversation about our lack of connectivity with the natural world. Recent subjects have included Joshua Trees decimated by wildfires in the USA, and prints created for fundraisers for the Woodland Trust, plus collaborations with other artists. There are now well over 300 monoprints in this collection, with 5 of them currently on show in 3 separate exhibitions in the UK.
Sofya Volfkovich: Cactus
This monoprinted cactus was drawn directly on a screen by Sofya Volfkovich. She applied magenta, cyan and a clear base, then added a yellow layer, and finally white spines. The piece was created and is available to purchase as part of #artistsupportpledge.
Spiegelsaal: Monoprints
During the screen printing process, it’s almost impossible to avoid constantly producing monoprints. As Bob Ross already knew, happy little accidents rule! During the set up of a print run, Spiegelsaal run a few pulls on random pieces of paper to test if the registration is tight and to verify the opacity of the ink. Over time these pieces have accumulated imagery, and take on a design of their own and become a one-of-a-kind art prints.
Alastair Keady: Will Not Support Weight
This is the third of three screen monoprint diptychs by Alastair Keady that interspaced some multi-layered and precise pieces. “I like to alternate between the large and small, and finicky and loose,” says the printmaker. These monoprints used cut newsprint masks and a maximum of two layers of any colour. They are all comprised of a horizon with a large dark structure dissected by the two sheets.
Hannah And Her Press: Dad’s Shoes
This print by Hannah and Her Press is inspired by her fathers heavily paint covered shoes and the vibrant, impasto paintings his trainers were painted alongside. She took a painterly approach with the initial monoprint layer, applying the ink liberally with a brush, with the linocut block printed over the top. The linocut print reintroduces finer details and contrasts the looseness of the monoprint below, as well as reflecting Hannah and her father’s different choices of medium.
Alchemic Print: Graffiti Monoprint
“I love experimenting when doing prints,” comment Alchemic Print. The original inspiration for this piece came from viewing graffiti around their city of Pittsburgh. As they began to print, they dripped ink onto the screen and ran it through to see what would come out.
Matt Martin: Supergod
This print series was initiated after Matt Martin had the idea of deconstructing a single comic book frame, and breaking it down into its coloured elements. To get that cheap comic book paper texture, he chose to work with monotypes, as it replicates the grainy, patchy and overlapping print process of 70s pulp printing. He comments; “I get a real buzz off experimenting with monoprints – I wanted to give up a certain amount of control and go with the flow, which isn’t something you get when carving lino or using precise technical screenprinting. I find with monotypes you’re never sure what you’ll get, and there’s an added element of making it up on the fly.”
Vitória Bas: Super Spin
Super Spin is a collection of screenprints with open-screen monoprints illustrating cycling jerseys. This was a playful initial experiment by Vitoria Bas exploring the colours and unique visual language of racing cyclists. The series is composed of 8 prints, the jersey layer on each being a unique pull – hand painted into the screen.
Check out more work by our community, browse our membership directory, and apply to become a Verified POP Member at www.members.peopleofprint.com.
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