Making Monotypes without a Press

How can you make prints without having a printing press?  You can use  few different methods:

• Soft Block Printing
• Foam Plate Printing
• Traditional Screen printing
• Thermo Fax Screen Printing
• Trace Monoprinting
• Painterly monotype printing
• Stenciling
• Gelatin Plate monotype printing

Each method has it’s strengths and weakness, and therefore is better for certain applications.

A few years back, I took an intro to printmaking class and was hooked, but after the class ended I did not have a press to work with.

I tried an open studio at a local college but that was limiting too.  Eventually I found gelatin plate monotype printing and it was love at first “print.”  It is the ability to obtain a wonderful detailed impression without having a press that is the attraction for me. I also love the immediate, fluid process of gelatin printmaking.  Also I use non-toxic water based inks with the gelatin plate, which is good because I seem to be sensitive to oil based inks now.

Hand cut stencils can be used over and over again, but each time the impression is going to be different.

Mark making tools affect the ink differently every time.  I love that.

Do you prefer surprise or sameness?  If you are into surprise then be sure to join my mailing list to be the first to know about my upcoming e-course on Making Monotype with the Gelatin Plate.

Enjoy!

Linda