Lately I’ve been making Monoprints.  I go up to White River Junction, which is about an hour and a quarter away from here.  There’s a wonderful place there called the Tip Top Building – a former industrial building that’s been renovated and made into artist studios, shops and a restaurant.  I’ve been taking a course, and also just renting the use of a large press at Two Rivers Printmaking  – a cooperative organization that is basically operated by a group of printmakers.   Monoprints are closer to painting than any of the other printmaking processes.    The main reason I like the medium is because there are all kinds of interesting, and usually good surprises when you finally see your print.   I’ve been using oil based etching inks that I roll onto a plexiglass plate, and then manipulate by removing ink in various ways, drawing with various tools, using stencils.   The dogs above I drew on a piece of paper, then cut out and placed on a plate.   I reworked this plate a number of times and made 5 prints.  When I left the studio I placed the dog between two pieces of newsprint, and when I came home I peeled off the papers.  The above are the prints from the stencils.  They look a bit like Inuit art to me.   too bad I didn’t use better paper!  But I can do it again.