The short answer is because I like to, but the longer answer will make a better blog post. I’ve been asked that question, usually by amateur artists (whom I greatly admire by the way), incredulous that I don’t either paint or print in multiples.
And sometimes I see their point- it’s often difficult to articulate why I make painterly, non-reproducible ‘prints’ on paper.
I’ll try. One reason is the sheer beauty and fragility of the marks made by hand mono printing. They can range from layers of paint or ink, so fine they resemble a Whistler river mist (but without the canvas rotting white spirit mixed in) to deeply ragged, graphic, gestural lines.
These marks can be planned to a certain extent, but are essentially uncontrollable. So, the accidental, the surprising, the serendipitous and the beautiful enter into the making of the art. You can’t control the mistakes, but you also can’t plan for the stunning surprises that happen constantly.
And that’s also part of the reason I love to monoprint- the hand mono- printmaker is always on her toes, always reacting to what has landed on her paper. Something she’s summoned, but doesn’t completely own.
And that’s also part of the reason I love to monoprint- the hand mono- printmaker is always on her toes, always reacting to what has landed on her paper. Something she’s summoned, but doesn’t completely own.
This creates a flow, a state of being, as well as beautiful art. The artist is herding, containing, curating, what is happening. Much as the painter feels, I imagine, but with the added bonus (it seems to me) of a ‘process’ between the mind, the hand and the paper.
No, not reproducible. But marks laid down for the long term, that reproduce the movement of the hand and the eye, the feeling on that day, at that hour, in that place.
Laid down on paper, the most democratic of substrata. Paper can be cut, rolled, hung, folded, placed in a folio, in a book, looked at in private or shared easily. The marks of the artist so immediate to the viewer.
Laid down on paper, the most democratic of substrata. paper can be cut, rolled, hung, folded, placed in a folio, in a book, looked at in private or shared easily. The marks of the artist so immediate to the viewer.
More practical reasons that I love to hand monoprint are it’s ease in terms of materials, tools and space. Just a few essentials- surface, roller, paper, ink or paint and away we go. In fact it’s hard to beat for ease and economy- perhaps an art form for our current times?
If you’re interested in learning to hand print at home, my ‘Playful Printing at Home: The Complete Video Course’ starts on November 1st 2022. It includes over 2 hours of video tuition as well as 3 weeks on online support from me. It’s £95. More info and emrollment here.