A description of the graphic technique called

A description of the graphic technique called 'monotype' and the procedures

Metamorphoses are interesting because they can be done by using different techniques.

Children find creating graphics as a real adventure. Whenever I give them instructions for making matrices and later advise them how to make the printing they are somehow uncertain and can’t fancy the final product. They are often quite alarmed about the final product during the procedure itself and they constantly ask questions, if there will be for sure any results at the end of the procedure. When the printing is finished they are mostly very excited and enthusiastic about their artwork. Well, sometimes things go wrong too, (the printing is shifted or inversed, too much or too little paint pilled on…) but that’s also part of the learning process and helps them understand that not always we succeed to make our best. We can say that all mentioned is essential for getting experience in creating different artworks, though.

One of the techniques that I find appropriate for the interpretation of Lowry’s artwork is monotype technique. It’s the only graphic technique where only one printing is possible. We can do it in different ways. I have decided to use the procedure where you have to print it from different plates.

What do we need?

	a piece of paper (A4)
	a pencil
	a ball-point pen
	three plates of the same size (lino, carton, Plexiglas)
	printing rollers
	printing colours (red, yellow, black)
	petroleum or diluter for cleaning the rollers
	waterproof and smooth surface to roll the paint on it
	patches/ pieces of cloth
	old newspapers to cover and protect the desk with it

Procedure:

	Roll out the red colour on the next plate.
	Repeat the procedure described above (yellow colour), but this time we rub in just the parts supposed to be red. Don’t press the paper down with your fingers otherwise you will get unwanted effects! We remove the second plate.
	Roll out the black colour on the third plate.

	Draw the chosen image with a pencil on the paper
	Roll out the yellow paint on the first plate
	Put the plate on the prepared paper. Turn the paper with the image face up. The plate has to fit the size of the image.
	Rub with the back of the pencil all parts of the image which are supposed to be yellow. Check if you have done all the work so, that you carefully lift one corner of the paper. Be careful not to move the paper or the plate. (click the images to view them bigger)

	Roll out the red colour on the next plate.
	Repeat the procedure described above (yellow colour), but this time we rub in just the parts supposed to be red. Don’t press the paper down with your fingers otherwise you will get unwanted effects! We remove the second plate.

	Roll out the black colour on the third plate.
	Repeat the whole procedure with the last plate, but this time take the ball-point pen and outline the image. Don’t press the paper down with your fingers otherwise there will be unwanted effects on the image!
	The printing is so finished. Wait till the colours are dry (approximately one day) then below the image write down the technique to the left and the name of the artist to the right and the year when it was created. The name of the image could be written in the middle. All the mentioned information should be written in pencil. It’s advised to be written by students themselves.
	Clean the rolls and plates with the petroleum or diluter, but do it in open air and when students are not present to prevent them from of poisonous vapours.

Here is the final result of the whole procedure done with monotype technique.