I keep creating monotypes, mostly charcoal sketches transferred to the gel plate and lifted with acrylic. Some have additional pastel or acrylic “reverse painted” on the plate before the final lift. These look painterly, I think. There’s one very bright red apple that I drew directly on the plate with acrylic markers. It’s not my style, but the medium called for something crisp and bright.

These are 6″x6″ and printed in a Stillman and Birn Nova sketchbook. I mentioned it before, but the paper is beige, and I’ve struggled a bit with keeping the lights light. On a few, I’ve been experimenting with only semi-mixing the paint before applying it to the background with the brayer. I really love the unexpected, mottled look, so much more expressive than the one-color or gradient backgrounds. My favorite is the female red-winged blackbird perching on the branch. I can tell it’s windy out because of the background.