Polyester Plate Lithography and Monarda

Last night I completed the short course on Polyester Plate Lithography with Alexis Brown at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven. This technique will take some practice to master it. I like the results that can be achieved, and there are quite a few, most of which I did not try. As I have stated previously, the use of oil based printing inks is a draw back for me. I really appreciate the ease in which water mixable oils allow for clean up with soap and water.

Here is a look at what I did last night. Will add photos from previous weeks in another post.

  This was created with two polyester plates. The bottom layer is the trace monotype of Monarda printed on ZAcryl polyester plate and inked with graphite etching ink.  On top is the original drawing of the Monarda printed on a Pronto polyester plate and printed with rose madder etching ink mixed with graphite. If I printed on white paper I think the graphite ink would be more visible. I like the look of the rose madder on the beige paper, however.

Turning One of A Kind into a Printable Plate

Monarda Trace Monotype

Making a trace monotype creates a lovely effect and is somewhat time consuming to do, as in this example of a drawing of Monarda. Part of a project I worked on last summer (see link here), this piece shown was created as follows. I made a sketch of red monarda that grows in my front garden. I rolled red ink onto a plexiglass palette, placed a piece of my handmade gampi paper on top, put a piece of blank copy paper on top of that, then the drawing. I traced over the drawing which put pressure onto the paper below which made contact with the ink.

Not only does this yield a color copy of the drawing on the paper of my choice, it provides a softer version of the line drawing. The light, unintentional pressure of my hand as it rested on the sheet as well as the texture of the gampi paper adds something that the original drawing lacks.

I am taking a class exploring Pronto Plate printmaking. I am working with both Pronto Plates and Z Acryl D2P Ployester Plates.  I will have this monotype copied onto the plate in black and white and will have it as a permanent plate to use again and again.

The only thing I don't like about lithography - stone, paper or polyester plate - is that oil based inks are required. I do not like to use mineral spirits for clean up, so use vegetable oil but this process is time consuming. When I create monotypes, monoprints, lino cuts, gelatin prints, etc., I am able to use water mixable inks and paints that clean up with soap and water in very little time. If you know of a litho process in which water soluble inks or paints may be used, please share that information with me!