Collage Monotypes

”Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day."
                                                          -- Winston Churchill.

I love painting with watercolors and was thrilled to find a workshop at CREATE where I could paint with them.  The class was called Collage Monotypes and it was taught by  Helen Shafer Garcia.  She's a wonderful teacher and it was such a joy to be in her class.  She had tons of materials for us to use.  The process begins by sketching on a piece of paper.  Then after putting an ink stiffener onto plexiglass, we put the plexiglass over our drawing and painted directly onto the plexiglass with watercolor.  When everything dried, we took damp Rives BFK paper and carefully placed it over the watercolor printing plate (plexiglass).  We then used a wooden spoon to rub gently over the back of the paper to transfer the image.  This was my first one...

Then we put another Rives BFK paper on the same print, repeating the process.  This second one is known as a ghost print...

Then I took colored pencils and watercolor washes to embellish my first print.  After it dried, college elements were applied...

Unfortunately, I never had time to fully finish this.  I have more details I want to add to the bird, leaves and butterfly.  I promise I'll show you the finished painting once it's done.

After using the plexiglass as our printing plate, we did another sketch and this time we used a Dura-Lar matte translucent sheet as our plate.  I only had time to make the two prints, my original...

And my ghost print...

I am in love with this process and I can see the endless possibilities with it.  Friday evening CREATE has a vendors and artist fair.  Helen Shafer Garcia has some of her artwork for sale.  She had an entirely different process on some of her art that I really fell for.  Unfortunately, I could only afford to purchase the smallest one, but I still love it...

I found out that the crinkled paper is called Masa, which is a Japanese paper.  Helen told me that she soaks it and wrinkles it before it's applied.  I just love the look of the crinkles!

These are just some photos I took in the classroom...

My workspace...

Helen Shafer Garcia...

One of the students in our class brought in the latest copy of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios.  Helen is one of the featured artists...

The next day I had Joanne Sharpe as an instructor.  I have lots to share with you tomorrow about her wonderful class.