syllabus — Printmaking

Monotype & Monoprint

terms:

Monotypes are among the most flexible forms of printmaking because they can be created in so many different ways. However, unlike other forms of printmaking, they usually produce only a single, unique print (although ghost prints are possible). The monotype printmaking process is often confused with the monoprint process because the two genres share formal similarities. To add to the confusion the terminology is spelled similarly, and before contemporary times the terms had been used non-specifically for unique prints. Monotype and monoprint can be distinguished as follows:

MONOTYPE – A singular image created by manipulated pigment on a smooth, un-etched, un-carved surface or printing matrix.
Note: One cannot create a limited edition monotype because they are non-identical unique prints.

MONOPRINT – A print that is similar to a monotype, but with some element of repeatable mark (ex: a carving, a stencil, or something added to the matrix/surface other than pigment). The repeatable element might be nearly the entire image, which would result in nearly identical works (ex: a drypoint where additional ink is added to the plate and manipulated). On the other hand, the repeatable element might be a minor component of the image, which would result in distantly related works (ex: a multi-process monotype where one repeatable stencil is added making it a monoprint).
Note: Some of you have already created a monoprint for the drypoint assignment by leaving ink on the surface of the plate an manipulating it or painting in to it or by experimenting with multiple colors on a single plate.
Note on terminology: I’m using a common contemporary conception of monoprint to describe a monoprint as “a print that is similar to a monotype, but with some element of repeatable mark.” Some definitions stipulate that monoprinting must involve some element of permanent repeatable mark. Given this dispute, one could argue that the use of a removable stencil falls somewhere in the gray area between a monotype and a monoprint.

Monotypes and monoprints can be hand-printed or printed with a press.

There are many ways to edition a monoprint including “EV” for edition variable or “M” for monoprint or “1/1” denoting a unique print.

resources:
Common printmaking terms & vocabulary
Edition Information PDF
Print Liberation by Nick Paparone and Jamie Dillow (book)

DePaul Idea Realization Labs, IRL & IRL2
MoMA / Khan Academy demonstration of Edgar Degas’ monotype process (here)

Creating colored prints through a multi-layered process (here)
And of course MONOTYPE and MONOPRINT demos in class or posted on D2L