In my printmaking projects I want to work in monotypes, collographs, linoleum cuts, and woodcut prints. Monotype is a new process for me and I want to see what other artists from the past have produced like Degas, Gauguin, Rembrandt, William Blake, Jasper Johns, Milton Avery, Frank Duveneck, and William Merritt Chase.
I will try both additive and reductive ways of monoprinting, then try using the technique as a backdrop to add together with other kinds of prints.

I want to continue with my theme of news stories that show how we are not free, we are kept as infants, we are kept in debt, we want the State to take care of us, make our decisions for us, keep us safe. I sometimes call these my exposure of ignored horrific events, or my crazy interiors. I have been working in this theme with my paintings but I don’t think the monotypes can be as detailed as paintings.
To begin, I might start off much simpler in terms of composition and concept. I might try more of my paintings of clouds and skyscapes. It will be an opportunity to work on colors and textures.

With the monotypes, I will try a couple different techniques. I’ll try reductive, to start with black ink as the background and remove the ink where the scene is light. I can use different objects to remove the ink for different effects. Afterward I can take ghost prints of these scenes and rework them again into paintings. I can try additive process where I apply the color to draw or create the scene. Try using objects to press into the paper to give texture. I’ve read a suggestion to create the image in four color layers – first apply yellow, then magenta, then cyan, then black. All of these techniques are new to me.

I am interested in low-impact work; for example, using paint and inks that can be easily cleaned up with soap and water and don’t require solvents or turpentines. And not always using a large or etching press. I want to hand-pull prints whenever I can with a baren or a wooden spoon. I am moving into a period in my life where I want to downsize, move into a smaller place, have less possessions, and may not always have a large press available to me. The idea of hand-pulling prints is very appealing to me for a variety of reasons and I plan to explore this option whenever possible. I considered buying a pinpress but it’s expensive and I will try smaller steel rolling pins first.

My last project was paintings of these news stories and events, rather detailed and using realism. It is a challenge for me and each painting takes much longer than I expect because I work in layers. The Monotype printing will be a totally different process: more freely applied paint and more uncertainty as to how the ink will end up being applied.

I will start small, maybe 11×15″ on arches or watercolor paper. Then get larger. The Japanese papers I want to try are about 24×36″ or so. I look forward to the suggestions for how to mat and frame the work professionally.