Exercise 3.3 Monotype, using the removal method

Make five more portrait monotype prints, this time removing different areas of paint with cotton buds, cotton wool, smooth rags, rough rags or tissue paper.

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I had used a few of the techniques with a baby wipe and cotton bud in the previous exercise.

I experimented some more with different materials and was reminded by Facebook that it had been three years since I had hung up my wings and retired from flying.

I should use some photographs from my flying experiences.

Maybe a portrait of me in uniform?

I had some interesting books on vintage travel and airline fashions also. Could I scan and photocopy them and take influence from Marlene Dumas and her process of using images to give her inspiration from books and magazines?

I was interested in the airline uniform fashions worn before me, the overseas crew with their variants and cultural differences in uniform i.e. head scarves not hats, tunics or trousers not skirts.

I scanned and printed out a few images from my book.

I was also inspired by looking through one of my art books Vitamin P3 New Perspectives and the work of Nijideka Akunyili Crosby

Her work is complex layers arranged in space using combinations of paint collage and various printing techniques. I liked her work because of it's unusual assorted techniques.

Printing or transfers were combined with paint and collage to produce striking compositions.

I wanted to try something simple at first.

I printed this smaller, self portrait in uniform a monotype on a page of an old Spanish dictionary. I used a rag and cotton bud to carve out the British Airways logo before printing.

Eye in the sky

Monotype with open acrylics on a book page. 21cm x 13cm

I was really quite happy with this small print. The paint has been absorbed easily and the erasure of the logo with the text underneath works. The hat's material texture and quality has been captured by the lines of the brush and I can feel the form of the hat.

It's not a proper picture and I like that about it, the eye is captivating and the piece has the essense of me.

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I used a more diffused approach with the next piece.

I used;

• Paynes grey open acrylics and retarder.

• A4 green smooth paper.

• Medium filbert synthetic brush.

Scanned image.

Mopping up excess diluted open acrylic paint with kitchen roll. Once it dried I added thicker umber paint around the silhouette of the face.

I used this technique to erase the areas I want to work into, in this case the face and emblem on the hat.

Stewardess

Monotype with open acrylics on A4 Paper.

I like some aspects of this for example the movement in the hair, the random intriguing blurred marks caused by erasure of paint. The face needs definition as it lacks character and is flat, boring and uninteresting.

I used the same image to produce my second Stewardess but this time I made a silhouette of the face with my digital cutting machine.

I wanted to erase parts of the face but instead of no paint I wanted to add collage.

What could I use for the collage?

I went to a charity shop and found some Air Story Books from the 1930's, perfect I thought.

They smell old and vintage and have very absorbent pages.

I stuck them to a piece of card and cut out my stewardess profile.

I used;

• Diluted Graphite powder panting it on the glass surface.

• Collaged Air stories book pages (digitally cut) and stuck to the paper before printing.

• White A3 sketch book paper.

I carefully lined up the print with the printed collage by taping the paper at the side.

Using a dry brush I added blends of charcoal power and built up the piece.

Erasing the emblem area on the hat again, made an interesting area with the text layer underneath.

I added sweeps of umber and pastel blue line around the hat.

A little frottage in the background for interest and using a baby wipe to blend areas of stain across the piece evokes nostalgia.

The edge of the collaged face is a striking white (unpainted line) leading you through the portrait.

Her gaze is calm and professional amidst the chaotic marks and reminded me of the feeling of keeping up that composure on a busy flight no matter what the situation.

A Stewardess- Composed

Monotype -Powdered graphite,,acrylic and pastel on A3 paper

I feel that I can develop this somehow towards my assignment. I like the concept. Food for thought and reflection. The palette and overall composition has potential.

So what have I learnt?

• Using visual stimulation from contemporary artists can stimulate my imagination. For example Njideka Akunyili Crosby's use of mixed media and complex layers.

• Erasing parts of a composition can form striking areas of interest.

• Printing on text or pattern results in layered images.

• Wiping away paint causes intriguing marks.

• It is easier to erase initially and work onto the areas as it is easier to build up layers gradually.