Tracy Leagjeld

Tracy says her art is a way to communicate and share with others her love and reverence for nature. "I love being outside surrounded by nature. Forests, meadows and deserts all have a different kind of energy. While exploring these areas I try to soak in this energy and hopefully this energy is transferred to the painting or print that I am working on. If this has been accomplished, I am satisfied with my work. I am not so concerned with capturing correct shape and color. I strive to create paintings and prints that allow the viewer to put themselves into the painting and feel the spirit of the place."

What is a Monotype?

A monotype is a painting on paper or board. Both the terms monotype and monoprint are a form of printmaking whereby an original image is inked or painted onto a non-porous surface, such as a piece of plexiglass, wax paper or metal (called a plate), then transferred onto paper or board by laying it over the painted surface and applying pressure. Typically a printing press is used although I hand "pull" my prints, meaning I don't use a press, I apply pressure by hand until the ink is transferred to the paper (lots of elbow grease).   A monotype is a unique image, unlike a monoprint, which may contain some repeatable elements. A monotype is a unique work of art, and much like a painting, cannot be replicated. I apply two to four or more layers of ink to my images to achieve the final painting, re-inking and pressing the plate with each new layer. Many types of pigment can be used, including oil paints, acrylics and watercolors, although I prefer to use oil-based printer's ink as it has a wonderful luminous sheen. Some artists use brushes to apply the pigment to the plate. I use a 1 1/2 inch rubber brayer, as the inks are too tacky to be applied with a brush.  Monotypes can be embellished by the artist with collage or by drawing or painting directly onto the print. The possibilities are endless, and when combined with the vision of the artist, the results are quite diverse and imaginative.