A monotype is a one-of-a-kind work of art on paper. It is created by painting or drawing an image on a flat surface or plate, placing a piece of paper on the plate, and applying pressure in order to transfer the image from the plate to the paper. Pressure most often is applied with a printing press. Some artists will "pull" a second impression from the ink remaining on the plate after the first impression has been printed; this second impression is called a ghost. The artist may consider a particular ghost a finished work of art in its own right or may use the ghost as an underpainting of sorts and continue to draw, apply additional ink, or add layers of collage to the ghost until the artist's desired image becomes visible. Once the monotype and ghost have been printed, there is  virtually no ink or image remaining on the plate. A monotype image actually is the ink. Monotype is perhaps the simplest, least time consuming and most spontaneous printmaking process, producing one (mono-) print (type).

Sometimes artists, art sellers, and art buyers use the terms monotype and monoprint interchangeably. These are two different art forms. A monoprint is one in a limited series wherein each print shares some sort of common matrix applied in a uniform manner. Printing processes such as etching, lithography, mezzotint and woodblock also produce a series of prints of a single image.

The first exhibition devoted to surveying the history of monotypes occurred only about 30 years ago. The Painterly Print: Monotypes from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century premiered at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, October 16-December 17, 1980, then traveled to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it was on display January 24-March 21, 1981.

The catalog, The Painterly Print: Monotypes from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century, is now out-of-print and may still be found in the used book market.

"Who can say wherein lies the charm of a monotype -- that unique print from a painted plate, which stands in the half shadow between painting and printmaking?... Its spontaneity and freshness, its directness and freedom place it apart from other traditional print media as a means of artistic expression that should not be overlooked."       -- Ida Ten Eyck O'Keeffe, 1937

Click the PLAY button below to view a quick live demonstration of how a monotype is created in my studio.