Exploring Monotype Art Etchings

Monotype etching is a type of printmaking made by drawing or painting on a smooth, non-absorbent surface. Each drawing or painting will only yield one piece of art. Hence the term "mono" type.
These plates can be copper, zinc, glass, and I have been busy working with 8 x 10 acrylic plates to create some unique monotypes. 

Although it's been a while, I will try to document each different process and outcome in this post.
The pieces you see below are all hand painted on an acrylic plate with akua inks. 
Once each plate was ready, I pressed it onto Rives BFK etching paper using a Conrad E-12 Etching Press.

For the two pieces above, I started by inking the entire plate, then created the images by using a scratch board process of removing ink in fine lines with an etching tool. Then each plate was printed as described above. 

The three pieces seen above, the plate was hand painted, and then scratched into with etching tools before being pressed. 

The above piece was a two step process. I first printed the plate with the inside design and color on the entire piece. Then I inlaid a smaller 6 x 8 piece od paper over the center, reprinted the plate with red and black inks additional scratchboard work as seen below, printed and removed the center paper leaving two pieces, the 8 x 10 above and the 6 x 8 below.

I did the same two step process with two additional works. Below you see the two pieces separated, but on careful inspection, you can see the scratchboard work that overlaps in each, as well as the color overlay.

Experimenting with new techniques is always very rewarding. You just never know what might happen, but the process is as exhilarating as a 5K run.  Good for the mind and soul!