A monotype is a direct transfer of ink to paper using pressure. Originally invented by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (March 1609 – 5 May 1664), an Italian Baroque painter, printmaker and draftsman of the Genoese school. Known as the painterly print, a monotype yields only one impression with a residual pale ghost impression.
In this workshop participants will work with master printmaker, Kathryn Kain, to create unique monotypes on her small press. Working with a painterly approach on Plexiglas plates we’ll make impressions from plants, stencils and photocopy transfers to create unique printed works on paper. Vibrant oil based inks print beautifully on Rives BFK printmaking paper or soft absorbent papers like Japanese Kozo to create spontaneous rich imagery. Solvents will not be used, clean up is done with vegetable oil and Simple Green.
Whether you are a professional or beginner this workshop will be fun and productive. Instruction is tailored to the individual and participants will leave with a series of unique fine art monotypes limited only by your imagination.
Bring stencils, forage for leaves or flowers and incorporate imagery with black and white laser prints or photocopies, Japanese papers, doilies etc. An assortment of materials will be available so it’s optional to bring your own. Contact me with questions and concerns, kk@cailech.com, cell# 408 230 8629
Additional Supply Fee: Paper will be available to purchase as needed, $6.00 per sheet, total determined by individual use.
Workshop Reviews
“Kathryn Kain gave a Monotype Workshop at our Art Museum in August of 2018. I enrolled in the workshop and found Kathryn to be an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and student oriented instructor & artist. She knows how to help students create beautiful pieces of art and really enjoys helping everyone with their artistic creations. All of us who took the class have continued to use many of the techniques she taught us in our own art. I highly recommend her classes and we hope to have her teach again at our museum.
– Ernie Wasson, Siskiyou Arts Museum board president, Dunsmuir, CA.
About the Instructor
Kathryn Kain was born in Toledo, Ohio and studied art at the Cleveland Art Institute, Toledo University and Arizona State before settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. She completed a BFA with an emphasis on printmaking at San Jose State University. After further study with Kenjilo Nanao and Misch Kohn at Cal State Hayward, she earned her MFA in printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Nature, nurture and the deep connection between humans and plants inspire her art. Her work features beautifully rendered fruits, flowers and branches that are part of the tradition of the still life and vanitas theme. Selected ephemera, collected images and found papers offer hints of narrative.
She has been on the visiting faculty at Stanford University, the San Francisco Art Institute and Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, Blufton College and Dominican University.
