Jean Sheppard Monotypes

What’s a Monotype?

A monotype is an image on paper produced by transferring a design created on a plate to paper by hand pressing or running the plate through a lithographic press. Most printmaking techniques allow the production of many copies of the same image, with monotypes generally only one image is produced, hence the prefix “mono.” The resulting print has textures and surface effects that cannot be obtained by working directly on paper.

There are countless ways to create pattern, texture, and design in a monotype. Designs may be painted directly onto the plate and then altered by selectively removing paint from various areas. Almost anything with texture, such as fabric, cardboard, wallpaper, leaves, and petals, can be used to create patterns either by adding paint to the design or by taking paint away from the plate. Stencils, either your own original designs or from found objects, can be used. Photocopied material may be transferred and shapes can be embossed. By working on the plate changes can be made and the image constantly altered before it is finally, irrevocably, printed.

Although almost any medium can be used for monotypes, I work only with water-based media, such as watercolors, gouache, pastel, and water mixable oils. I often combine several together in each image. Each medium has its own characteristics and distinctiveness, what works with one will not with another.