Heavenly MONOTYPING
It is so exciting not knowing how the print will turn out
Monotyping for the first time…
My first experience in adulthood of the magic of making art was when a couple of my friends and fellow law students were so lucky to spend a whole day in the atelier of the mom of one of my closest friends. The mom, Britt Navelsaker Krefting, is a very talented and inspiring artist and her atelier was at Ekely - former residence and atelier of Munch. Yes, M U N C H! We got to “play around” with materials and paint and it was the best day of my life. I still have the painting I made that glorious day in my early twenties and it was the very start of it all because I will never forget the feeling of time standing still while painting; so at peace from within.
My work of art - “The Gold Fish” - from the magic day in 2004
So, fast forward twenty years later and once again I’m so lucky to be in Britt’s beautiful atelier, this time at Frogner, Oslo, with two of my closest childhood friends. Britt is so kind to teach us monotyping and once again I feel time standing still - and peace from within.
“Creme de la creme”: Victoria, MC, Britt and Nina Cecilie
Of course I had to try something with flowers…
I had no idea how much preparation, work and handcraft skills there is behind monotyping. I’m deeply honored to have been able to try it and I´m very proud of the result (given that I due to personal reasons had very short of time).
Here is a short and very imprecise summary of what I learned: The paper has to be torn, soaked and almost dry (with a towel). You have to plan the organization of the materials on a separate plate. You have to roll ink on a plate, take the planned “painting” to the press, create a registration sheet on the press, place the materials on the inked plastic plate, put silk papir and a blanket over the plate on the press and roll carefully (!). And then you have to peel off the materials after you have taken the print away from the press. You can also make a ghost print of the original print. Oh, and you have to think “the other way around” when printing - that took me a while understanding why, ha ha (I guess I’m not as smart as I like to think). And also, so important in printmaking: clean hands all the time… All the time!
I have no clue what I´m talking about, but I learned a lot from wonderful Britt and my oh my, it was so fun learning. Thank you so much Britt for once again making dreams come true! I got so excited and inspired that I went directly home and ordered the “Printmaking Bible” by Ann D´Arcy Hughes and Hebe Vernon-Morris. Now I´m just missing the press, Martin, ha ha… (Martin=my husband).
“I shut my eyes in order to see”
My monoprints, the original print, the ghost print and an extra print. Which one do you prefer?
I will bring my monoprints to my solo exhibition “The Sacred Space” - the time making them was truly, deeply sacred and I have so much respect for the handcraft behind printmaking. I will also bring my art work from 2004 - and this time “The Gold Fish” is up for sale (the last exhibition The Gold Fish was a part of I wasn´t ready to let go of her).
Love and light, until next time, MC - and I really hope to see you at “The Sacred Space”.
