Some of my work in the Veils Suite, such as Child’s Play II, Child’s Play III & Child’s Play IV are made using a printmaking technique called monotype.

The monotype is a singular and unique print that takes its image by painting, drawing, rolling, brushing, wiping… directly on a flat surface such as a metal plate or Plexiglas. This printing element is used to create a new image each time it is passed through the press.

The monoprint is frequently used as an alternative name for the monotype; both are singular and unique prints. However, the monoprint is a unique inking of a printing element with a fixed matrix, such as an etched plate or woodblock.

As Monoprints.com says, they are “known as the most painterly method among the printmaking techniques”. The looser and quicker way of working can be more fun and expressonistic compared to the more laborious and time-consuming traditional printmaking processes. Visit this site for some interesting information and history if you’d like to learn more.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum also has several pages on monotypes, with a focus on American artists. I recommend looking at the quicktime video presentations of the variety of techniques that can be used to produce monotypes. The videos sometimes skipped and stopped for me but the information is still useful, especially for novices to the process.

Also, you might like to revisit my entry about Mohsen Kahlili and look at some of his monoprints.