I started a new monotype sketchbook (8.5″ x 11″) where I sketch with charcoal from the back pages to the front pages, and I create the monotypes from the front pages to the back pages. I wanted to have a system where the sketches aren’t in a wide variety of sketchbooks or on single sheets, but it’s kept together.

I use the Gelli plate to “grab” the charcoal sketch and then usually only apply one coat of acrylic paint before creating the print. I doubt the sketches and the prints will meet in the middle because I sometimes don’t use a sketch, like the birch trees above. That was done with the roller and a paintbrush and inspired by Linda Brown, a gel plate and collage artist Youtuber.

My favorite is the potted begonia, second the birches, and third the old doorway.

I learned a lesson about how to clean and store gel plates, but I didn’t realize I was doing anything wrong until my charcoal prints had nearly stopped transferring to the plate. Instead of a medium to dark transfer, they were barely there and then hardly lifted with paint. One day, I realized that I had totally stopped using mineral oil to clean the plates, and instead I was using almond oil, which seems to do a fine job and doesn’t irritate my skin. I then realized the almond oil was probably drying out the plates, which are made of mineral oil. So, I swapped back and everything has improved.