Creative Drypoint/Monotype

Creative Drypoint/MonotypeWhat is Drypoint printmaking?

Drypoint, like etching and engraving, belongs to the Intaglio family of printmaking, but is much more simple and direct than its relatives. In drypoint the surface of the plate is scratched, gouged, punctured, scraped or abraded, but the material itself is not removed, it is just pushed to the side, forming a kind of curl. Thus the lines will present a metal burr which, when looked at through a magnifying glass, shows up as a kind of broken metallic wave, like the ridges of a ploughed field.It is this 'burr' which holds the ink, and gives a drypoint line, or area, its typical velvety appearance. The great attraction of drypoint printmaking, for artists of all levels and disciplines, is its simplicity. Materials and tools are cheap and easy to come by and the process itself couldn't be more straightforward, so much so that drypoint plates can be produced on the kitchen table! No acid baths are required, as in etching, no consummate specialist skill is necessary, as in engraving, and results are quickly achieved. In addition, drypoint work is absolutely ideal for combining with other printmaking techniques, such as etching, monotype, chine collé and collagraph/carborundum printmaking, and is perfect for further work, by hand, in watercolour, gouache or coloured inks.

What is Monotype?

Monotype is the truly 'painterly' print medium, and is one of the only print techniques which requires no special tools to allow you to expand your imagination to unlimited possibilities. It is an exciting printmaking medium which involves painting, drawing and printmaking, where 'one-of-a-kind' images are developed using a variety of traditional, contemporary and innovative approaches.This creative process involves simple printmaking techniques that can merge drawing, painting and printmaking into rich and exciting works of art,yet the process does not require extensive drawing skills. After printing, the images can be an art work in their own right , or can be reworked to completion using various types of media.

The variations of this printmaking method are infinite, and it is a true adventure into printmaking. Even better, virtually everything you learn in the studio can be done in your own home.

What does the course entail?

Over the two-day workshop, the following areas will be investigated...

Within Drypoint:- Principles of intaglio printmaking; materials and equipment; basic drypoint techniques; use of power tools; drypointcollagraph; drypoint/etching; drypoint/monotype; drypoint/chine collé; hand-tinting; intaglio inking; print finishing and editioning; suppliers.

Within Monotype:- Dark-ground monotype, light-ground monotype, transfer drawing, multi-layering and registration, combining monotype with other techniques.