Palette Prints and Iris Variations
May 1999
Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco

This exhibition featured two different approches to creating unique original prints. The monoprints of the Iris series used a stencil matrix, inked differently for each print. The Palette Prints are monotypes -- each created from layers of ink applied to a blank plate.

About the Palette Prints
Using left-over ink is one of the greatest challenges and pleasures of monotyping -- whether it is used to print a lighter "ghost" print or as a starting point for a completely new image. The large monotypes in a previous exhibition were made by starting with a subject and then finding the appropriate way to visually express it. However, out of that ordered method came another way of working. At the end of each day, my last prints would be made using my inky palette as the printing plate. These prints gave me random starting points to imagine and connect subsquent layers of ink and imagery. Slowly, as each print would receive more layers, the subjects would reveal themselves. Then I could consciously add in the necessary elements that were missing. Big fun.

About the Iris Variations
As soon as the party crowd departed, I grabbed the beautiful bunch of iris a brunch guest had given us and began to paint this study. Later, while working on a new painting commissioned from this original study, I started imagining other treatments of the same image.

I decided on monoprints as the way to continue exploring this image. Using a stencil of the iris shapes, I built up layer after layer of ink, sometimes using metallic pigment, to create these prints. I wanted to retain the richness, delicacy and beauty of the iris while investigating a wide variety of light and color in each print.