Come join professional artist Jane Petschek for her Printmaking Without a Press: Direct Trace Monotypes Workshop.

Monotypes are a kind of print that is “pulled” from a painting or drawing made on an inked metal or Plexiglas plate. Direct trace monotypes are a fun and easy way to create a unique print that has beautiful line quality similar to a soft-ground etching or charcoal drawing, and without a printing press. Your source material can be a drawing, sketch, photograph or your imagination. This process is extremely flexible and works well for those who prefer to work abstractly, spontaneously, and for those who prefer to use a reference drawing or photo.

Briefly, a direct-trace monotype is made by first rolling a thin layer of printmaking ink onto a plexiglass surface. Then, a sheet of mulberry printmaking paper is draped over the inked plexiglass. Your sketch or drawing can be layered on top of that as a guide, if you wish, and then you can “trace” your image with a pen or pencil. Or, you can draw/make marks/work abstractly or spontaneously by drawing directly on the back of the printmaking sheet. Wherever pressure is applied, ink will be transferred to the printmaking paper. Depending upon how pressure is applied, lines may appear thick or thin and areas of tone can be developed by rubbing the back of the paper. It is easy to check the progress of your print by gently lifting the paper to observe your marks. Depending on time, we may be able to explore printing with colored inks, and/or creating “ghost prints” – transferring the negative image left on the inked plexiglass onto a mulberry sheet by hand burnishing. It should be possible for each student to make several prints

NOTE: One of the prints Jane Petschek will be showing in OAA Expressions #3 (part of the 2025 Late-Summer Art Exhibitions at Barn Gallery) is a direct-trace monotype, so visitors to the gallery can see an example of this type of print.

Materials you will need to bring to the workshop:

• Your drawings, sketches or simple photographs, 8” x 10” or 6” x 8” works well for this workshop
• Pencils, pens, 1-2 colored pencils, other mark-making tools (chopstick, e. g.)
• Eraser, a 12” or 24” ruler (to set borders for your print; can also be used as a leaning bridge)
• Tracing paper, (9” x 12” or similar works well for our format)
• Easy lift Masking or Painter’s tape
• Leaning Bridge – if you have one, please bring it! It is helpful to rest your hand over the print in progress to avoid unwanted marks

• Printmaking Without a Press: Direct Trace Monotypes Workshop by Jane Petschek
• Tuesday, August 19 (From 10 AM – 4 PM)
• Suggested donation: $75

Preregistration recommended. Call Barn Gallery: 207-646-8400. 

LEARN MORE: https://barngallery.org/event/jane-petschek-direct-trace-monotypes/