I started painting and printmaking in the 1990s at Hastings College of Art. Since then I have concentrated mostly on monoprinting, using various techniques, usually involving oil-based colours spread onto acetates which are run through an etching press onto dampened paper. I love the surprise as you lift the blankets, peel off the acetate and see for the first time the image you have created. Sources of inspiration vary but most persistent are running, mostly off road in the beautiful Sussex and Kent countryside, my 102 year old mother’s childhood memories, as well as the delights and challenges that daily life brings.
The monoprint or monotype is often thought of as a half way stage between painting and printmaking. The term is used to refer to any print made in one version and incapable of being repeated. A monoprint cannot be editioned.
The process is simple - the artist paints, rubs or wipes the design directly onto, for example, a plate or acetate, using a slow drying ink or paint. The image is then transferred onto paper.
Printing may be by press or hand and as the name monoprint implies, one can usually get only a single strong impression. The final effect must be guessed as there will be no trial proofs or different states unless the design is redrawn for a second impression. The process allows the printmaker added freedom and spontaneity.