Dear Art Lover,
Thanks for your interest in my work.
Here's my approach to envisioning and completing each monoprint . . .
The world is a complex mixture of color, light, textures, and shapes. As an artist, I use these elements to make people see things that they might not otherwise see, resulting in unique works of art.
The term “monoprint” refers to a one-of-a-kind piece of art that starts its life on a press - either a flat-bed press or a lithographic press. Although images in a “series” are similar, each is finished with various inks, textures and pencil renderings to set it apart from other completed works in the series.
Working from concept to completion . . .
The image is drawn in pencil on textured paper. It it then placed on a large inked Plexiglas plate and traced over with a stylus. This transfers the image to the plate, and, in turn, to the drum of a large lithographic press.
The image is pressed onto high-rag-content paper which absorbs the ink and provides a crisp image. Because the drum cannot be re-inked only about 10-12 images can be transferred to paper. The initial images are dark, becoming lighter as the ink is used up.
Additional inks are mixed and stencils are created to mask off certain areas. Ink is transferred individually to each monoprint with foam-rubber rollers. Frequently, a textured material is placed between the roller and the print, producing a unique visual effect. Finally, color pencils are used to individually finish rendering the detailed areas of each monoprint.
Working from background to image . . .
An alternate way to approach the process is to create a series of backgrounds by inking and pressing a variety of objects and shapes onto a Plexiglas plate which has already been inked with one or more colors. Paper is placed on top of the plate, then run through a press. The result is a combination of colors and textures.
The background “suggests” what should be on it by the way in which the shapes and colors interact. Acetate is placed over the background and an image is created. This image is transferred to an inked Plexiglas plate using a stylus and, in turn, transferred to the lithographic press. The image is registered with the background to start to create the monoprint. Stencils and color pencils complete the process.
Find out more about the materials used in this printmaking process on the Paper, Ink & Packaging page.
Please browse through the galleries on this website and feel free to contact me. I love talking about my artwork. Call me at (262)573-1403 and I'll be happy to share my perspectives with you.
Jack Pachuta
Wisconsin artist Jack Pachuta takes a non-traditional approach to his subject matter. Combining printmaking techniques with the craftsmanship of pencil and ink renderings, his works are known for their vibrant colors and unique textures.
Jack says, "An artist’s challenge is to portray the usual in unusual ways and to make people see what they might not otherwise see."
Jack met his English wife, Renira, over breakfast "on
holiday" in Portugal while they were both living and working in Germany.
They
were married on Shakespeare’s birthday in 1976 and now have two daughters, a cat
named Zoe, and a house that borders a Christmas tree farm.
A member of both the Cedarburg Artists Guild and the League of Milwaukee Artists, Jack has lived in Cedarburg since 1979. His works have been displayed in galleries throughout southeastern Wisconsin and he is a frequent exhibitor at art shows in the Midwest.
Jack is also a professional speaker, trainer, consultant, and the owner of Management Strategies, Inc. Plus, he is a murder mystery writer with consulting clients and a cadre of whodunit aficionados on six continents.
