Monotype or Monoprint? What’s in a Name

plate 1

plate 2

I’ll be using these two plates for the next printing sessions. Note that they are both covered partially with masking tape to create texture as well as imagery and, because this tape will remain permanent, the prints will change their names.  What’s the difference?

Monotype vs Monoprint . .  .

A monotype is neither a print nor a painting but a combination of both. It is one image, painted or drawn  with various mediums, oil or water based, onto a clean plate.The image is then  transferred to paper. A monotype plate is unworked, has no scratching or carving on  its surface. It produces a single image and cannot be reprinted. My first prints were monotypes.

A monoprint is, however, a print made using a plate that has already been worked on either by etching, collage, or lithography. The image will still be one of a kind but there is greater possibility to create a series, an edition of similar images. My next prints will be monoprints because, as you see, the plates have been worked on with tape. The main image in each will be similar.

  plate 1 (on the right above) inked before printing
the print