Urban Ashes (number 0175), Airport Fire, September 2024 copyright 2025 Douglas Stockdale –
When I started to print my multi-media monotypes, I soon realized that one visual aspect was missing for me; whites and highlights, especially somewhere in the midst of a field of color. So I had a couple of options; use some white opaque acrylic paint to go over areas or change my printing process to polymer photogravures. The opaque white acrylic paid did work, but also covered all of the underlying details; just white spots, which was not what I wanted to achieve.
Second, printing using various inks in conjunction with polymer photogravures had some potentials, but to effective use this intaglio printing process would also require that I install an intaglio printing press and all of the ancillary support equipment. Learning how to make the photogravure printing plates (direct to plate) would take some time probably similar to the learning curve for cyanotype printing process. My polymer photogravure printing experiment over the holidays left me emotionally flat; interesting result while not as dramatic as all of the internet buzzzz left me to believe would result using this printing process.
hmmmm. What next? Then I realized that I had missed the obvious; masking frisket! Especially since I had used this blocking fluid on many occasions for my earlier watercolor and acrylic paintings. Duh.
Essentially paint the areas I want to keep as paper white, allow the frisket to dry (usually has a color change to make it easier to find after you paint over it), then paint over it. Allow my paint top coat to dry, then use an eraser (for small area, I can also use my finger to roll it off) to remove the frisket. For the monotype above, I wanted to retain the white of one of the white houses that was just off center.
The trick I found using the frisket with the intaglio inks, is that this ink does not really dry when sitting on top of the frisket (intaglio ink “dries” by absorption, not by evaporation). Thus the need to use a paper towel to remove the ink before trying to remove the frisket, otherwise, a color-smear mess can result (yeah, did that the first time and realized my mistake).
I will probably go back to some of my earlier monotypes and consider a do-over to incorporate this creative feature. I am enjoying this learning curve and the resulting creative opportunities.
As to this monotype, this dramatic urban landscape scene was unfolding as I was looking out my back yard, as the Airport Fire started a little over four miles from my home. At the time I photographed this the wildfire was only about an hour old while due to intense winds was already rapidly growing in size and intensity. Fortunately for us, the intense winds were blowing away from us, while unfortunately for others in Riverside County, this roaring devil eventually descended on them with devastating results.
Urban Ashes (number 0175), Airport Fire, September 2024 is a unique multi-media monotype, with an image that is 16 x 20″ on a 20 x 24″ sheet of rag, using both pigment and transparent intaglio inks.
Make every day an Earth Day
Doug
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Artist book available:
The Flow of Light Brushes the Shadow, an artist book from Singular Images Press, copyright 2022, $60.00 (CA sales tax for those residing in the USA) plus shipping expenses. Message me douglas.stockdale.artist@gmail.com
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