Monoprinting Development 4

Masks / Stencils

Following my research into Marcel Duchamp's painting 'Yvonne and Magdeleine Torn in Tatters' I wanted to experiment with multiple profiles and varying the sizes of the masks.  The above masks were cut from a photograph (taken at the photoshoot) of myself and Mandy sat side by side - by cutting Mandy's face away I was left with one mask with a double profile in two different sizes which I thought might give a new element of interest to the layering.

Single colour, first press, cartridge paper, portrait A5

As I had hoped, I successfully created a print showing two profiles from a single mask.

Second press, same sheet of paper

Second colour, new mask added, cartridge paper

This smaller mask was less successful than the first - I think the angle of the profiles is less strongly defined.  The dark blue, however, makes an excellent contrast with the faded red and creates tonal variation where it has combined with the red underlayer.

Second press, masks reverse, magazine paper

Again the colour mixing evident here is more successful than the smaller mask.  The purple tones are enhanced by the glossy magazine paper.

Masks moved, re-inked, cartridge paper

I think the barely seen ghost image evident in blue here is particularly pertinent to the theme - it is all but obscured, requiring careful observation, but on inspection reveals a partial profile.  Completely spontaneous and unexpected!  I think this aspect of monoprinting lends itself well to this theme and the objectives I had, and I think I may use it as the central focus of realisation of this project.

Detail

Print plate, re-inked with second colour

I think this is a particularly successful image - my favourite from this series - with a strong build up of colour and tonal variation, clearly defined lines and a composition which draws the eye from right to left.

Magazine paper