The Matrix — The Diary of a Clay Monoprint Artist
The clay slab that a clay monoprint artist designs on gradually becomes a diary of their work.
The clay monoprint artist designs their work on a slab of clay known as the matrix, shown here.
I'm a visual artist creating clay monoprints — a unique art form where prints are made but using colored clay rather than ink or paints. The clay designs are "pulled" (transferred) to the material with a very thin layer of clay adhering.
The workspace is a clay slab (the matrix) upon which the artwork is designed using clay slips — clay with water added to create a workable thickness generally slightly thicker than house paint. Finally, pigment is added to make the color the artist is looking for.
The clay monoprint artist can paint the design directly onto the matrix, or as an alternative, onto blank newsprint paper. Then, after drying slightly, the newsprint is placed upside on the matrix, and pressure is applied to transfer it to the matrix. You can learn more in a previous article available here.
When the artist is happy with the print, the material for the artwork (Pellon, Reemay, etc.) is placed on the matrix, and pressure is utilized to transfer some of the clay slip to create the artwork. After "pulling" (transferring) a print, some of the clay slip and its design stay behind on the matrix.
Rather than starting anew, the following work is designed on top of the previous; when prints are pulled, old design elements (or small pieces) will randomly appear on the print pulled. Thus, while artists greatly influence clay monoprints, they never have complete control. This is why a large portion of these works are abstract in nature.
Each new print leaves a very thin layer of each design on the clay matrix, creating a diary of the artists' works — that will share literal memories moving forward.
Shown are several common tools of the clay monoprint artist.
Items shown:
1) Clay slip with yellow pigment added.
2) Dried clay chips can be used on the matrix for small detail.
3) Painter's tape used for creating on-the-spot stencils.
4) Pastry roller used to apply pressure when pulling a print.
Look for future clay monoprints here:
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All material, written and visual, is protected by copyright. © 2023 Andrew T. Smith
VoyageBaltimore Daily Inspiration Interview
The online magazine VoyageBaltimore interviews artist Andrew Smith.
The online regional magazine VoyageBaltimore’s January 2nd edition featured a brief interview with me regarding my artwork and work in general. Read it here.
"Pigment" Exhibit at York's Gallery @227
“Pigment” clay monoprint exhibit at Gallery @227 December 2022 - January 2023
Andrew Smith of Visual Realia, LLC will be exhibiting over two dozen clay monoprints at Gallery @227, located on the first floor of the Codorus & Company building at 227 W. Market Street, York, PA. The exhibit will run from Friday, December 2nd, 2022, through the end of January 2023. A First Friday opening reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, December 2nd, from 5:00 - 9:00 PM.
When hearing the word clay, many think of pottery and ceramics, whose applications go back thousands of years. Texture and color were both modified by adding sand or metal oxides. Pennsylvanian Mitch Lyons utilized both ceramics and printmaking techniques by using clay slips (clay with high amounts of moisture) to create the modern art form called clay monoprints.
The clay monoprint artist designs their work on a slab of stoneware clay (called the matrix) by adding and manipulating additional colored clay in various shapes & forms. When the artist is ready to print, the matrix and the material (substrate) are misted with water, and the substrate is placed on the clay slab. Next, pressure is applied to transfer the image. Finally, the completed print is carefully pulled from the clay slab, hung to air dry, and sprayed with a clear sealant.
An unusual tradition of the clay monoprint artist is to create the new design on top of the previous, allowing elements of earlier works to express themselves in prints randomly. For this reason, most clay monoprint artists create abstract images.
Interested readers can find more information regarding clay monoprints and Andrew Smith at www.visualrealia.com.
“Pigment”
An exhibit by Andrew T. Smith
Gallery @227
227 W. Market Street, York, PA
December 2nd, 2022, through January 2023
M-F, 8:00 - 5:00
First Friday, 5:00 - 9:00 PM
Other Hours by Appointment with the Artist
Evolution of Madness
“Evolution of Madness” — Clay Monoprint by Andrew T Smith of Visual Realia, LLC
The Maryland Federation of Art's Fall Member Show, with fifty-seven artists selected to exhibit by juror Susan Badder, is now open. My clay monoprint, Evolution of Madness, is included. (Shown here.)
The show runs through October 15th, with the gallery open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Circle Gallery is located at 18 State Circle, Annapolis, Maryland.
While art is always best experienced in person, the sales gallery is available online.
"Hope in the Balance" at the Maryland Federation of Art
Andrew Smith’s “Hope in the Balance”
Andrew Smith’s clay monoprint, "Hope in the Balance," was juried into the Maryland Federation of Art's Landscape exhibit, running from August 31st through September 24th, 2022. Juror Al Gury, Professor of Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, selected 37 artists and 61 works from 630 entries.
Culture On The Line Website Follows Regional Creatives
A new member of the Visual Realia family is online, Culture On The Line, a curated look at the culture of south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. I hope you bookmark it and follow its corresponding Facebook page.