Monotypes - Murmuration Series

For the latest in my monotype series, I have recreated murmurations out of discarded metal type (similar to the letter bubble in my crow print). Each murmuration is made up of several separate forms using non-traditional typesetting techniques. In each murmuration that are hidden words and messages. Although the type may be similar in several prints, the backgrounds are all one-of-a-kind

All of my monotypes are one-of-a-kind prints. They start with me laying ink directly on the paper with a brayer. Once the background is dry, I start layering up different shapes and textures by hand-inking blocks, letterpress cuts, and pieces of wood, the use my hand instead of a press to transfer the ink to paper, an imperfect method that creates interesting textures I wouldn't get on the press. This technique also allows me to work quickly and react to what I've just laid down, vs planning every last detail ahead of time (like I do for my regular linoleum blocks). 

For the final layers, I return to the press to print metal type on top of the unique print I've created. Each one takes a tremendous amount of time, but they are really fun to make! I think of them as a cross between a painting and a print.