Silk Monotypes

SILK MONOTYPES

This technique was developed by me in an attempt to print on silk using textile inks which were made specifically for silk or fabric. In this way, it is archivally sound to print with textile inks rather than the Handschy lithography inks I use specifically for printing on paper. This became a challenging process in a series of preliminary steps that each had to be mastered. First, I had to devise a way of thickening the textile inks. Magnesium Carbonate could be used but thickening agents specifically for textile inks were also used in conjunction. To retain the pure white, and block out the effects of bleeding, I first painted with melted wax onto the fabric where I wished the whites to be. Similar to batik. Then I painted very quickly with textile inks onto the plexiglass plate. There was no time to deliberate but I just had time to respond to the medium from purely an instinctive way because the inks would dry quickly on the plexiglass plate before I could print. As soon as the image was what I wanted, the silk was placed on the bed of the printing press with a sheet of printing paper under it. The plate was placed face down on the silk and paper silk and plate were passed through the press in one operation. What I gained was an exciting process that yielded two entirely different prints from one printing. The pressure of the press forced the silk to not only print but to print through onto the paper underneath. The wax resist on the silk blocked the printing and unusual effect on paper was achieved. This unusual paper effect was set aside temporarily for new work. The silk with the printed image, was dried and then pressed with an iron in order to melt the wax. The printed silk was then adhered to BFK Rives Printing paper with archival PVA glue.

Faust’s Trinity….

Air Water Earth

Monotype on silk adhered to paper

14 x 15

Faust’s Trinity….Water

13 x 14

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