Monotype: Rose in her Hair

Rose in her Hair 4 x 6 Monotype & Watercolor
Sold
I've received many emails this month asking for details on monotypes and ghost prints. The image above is a dark field monotype; the first print pulled from a polished zinc plate, coated with oil-based black ink, which was wiped away to reveal a portrait. I'm using a subtractive process; the face emerges as the wet ink is cleared from the plate in various degrees for texture, tone and value (see below).
Paper is soaked in water and blotted before being laid on the still wet, ink-coated plate. A press is used to press the paper into the ink, and when the paper is peeled off the plate, you get a monotype. If enough ink remains on the plate, you can lay a second sheet of paper over your image, and pull another, fainter version of the monotype. This is called a ghost print.
I pulled one monotype and two ghost prints from this plate (see below) before cleaning the ink off to make something else. I get to use the same plate over and over because there are no lines or grooves etched into it. My 4x6 zinc plate has been used to make hundreds of monotypes. Variation in inks, papers, press-pressure and additional treatments in the studio make each print a unique piece of art. The possibilities are endless, as each ghost print is a hand pulled under painting of sorts.
The monotype at the top of this post is sold, but the two ghost prints are waiting patiently in the studio for watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, crayon, charcoal, and whatever else seems fun the moment I pull one from a flat file and lay it on my art table.