PLATE TO PRESS: Monotype Printing

In this practical workshop, you will be introduced to the foundational art of monotype printing using both print processes, discovering how each offers a completely different artistic voice to your botanical artwork.

During the session, you will work hands-on to:

• The Gel Plate: Explore painterly, fluid monotyping on a flexible surface. You’ll learn how to roll out balanced ink layers, use leaves as soft masks, capture subtle background shifts, and pull delicate ghost prints without needing a press.
• The Etching Press: Experience working with a traditional press in a small group setting. Under the heavy pressure of the press rollers, gathered foliage reveals its finest architectural details — capturing intricate vein networks, raw edges, and deep structural textures directly onto damp paper.

By working through both processes, you will gain a clear understanding of how different pressure and plate surfaces affect your results, leaving with a varied collection of unique monotypes and a strong foundation in printmaking basics.

Discover when to choose a gel plate versus an etching press based on the level of detail and painterly effect you want to achieve.

Provided: Access to a large professional press, printmaking inks, gel plates, brayers, printmaking paper, and step-by-step guidance at the press.