The particular palette of the watercolour monotypes made by Michael Taylor, in 2016, is a result of his experience of the physical properties of the handmade watercolour put before him for the making of his monotypes in the studio.
In April 2013 Zhané Warren scheduled Michael Taylor to collaborate with her again (having done so from 2008 to 2012). This time the plan was to make only watercolour monotypes and Zhané was determined to address the problems experienced with tube watercolour. Roxy Kaczmarek (the Studio Manager) and Zhané researched the various methods of making watercolour, looking at the recipes and methods of watercolourists as far back as the 16th and 17th century. Zhané’s aims were to have a watercolour that meets the demands of the watercolour monotype technique, ample supply to make many monotypes during an intense working period and, which satisfies the artist’s need to paint with large brushes while also covering an entire surface without forfeiting colour intensity. Making it oneself opened up the possibility to tailor-make particular colours inline with the artist’s palette.
Taylor, a perfect guinea pig for their experiments with recipes, collaborated with an open mind and no expectations. Patiently allowing Roxy and Zhané to adjust ingredients, based on the medium quality and transference ability manifested in the monotypes pulled. Neither was he precious, gladly discarding prints along the way. Because of the pigment concentration used the sheer brilliance of the colours was astonishing. At first Taylor struggled to subdue or push the colours back; no amount of water diminished the intensity of particular colours. And, thus Taylor used tube watercolour for the paler applications; allowing him to manipulate the values of the hues.
Along the way the recipe has been improved. The method of making watercolour that Warren Editions has developed entails firstly, mixing a watercolour solution by stirring together Gum Arabic, honey-water, glycerine, ox-gall and citric acid. Secondly, this solution is blended very well with fine pigment powder into a smooth, runny paste with a glass-muller on a glass slab, similarly to the method employed when making printing ink.
Storing of handmade watercolour sealed causes the trapped fungal spores to rapidly change into mould – Roxy solved this problem by dehydrating the paste during times when the watercolour was not used. The watercolour now lasts for approximately 3 – 6 months depending on the particular pigment properties. A small amount of paste goes along way because of the concentration of pigment used in the making. Subsequently, the making of watercolour is taught to the interns in the studio’s internship programme and participants of the monotype workshops.
Taylor visited the studio in April 2016 to make woodcuts, while taking breaks from carving he produced small watercolour monotypes. He shared with Zhané that the Warren Editions watercolour is far more intense than the tube colours; the paint forms dense areas on the PVC surface (the material on which the paint is applied) particularly with the blues, greens and deep yellows. He explains that it is easier for him to build up a lot of colour with less medium and he mixes the white from the tube watercolour so as to tint the colours – working with both the handmade and tube watercolour in combination. The result are intimate works of dandy-like, long-limbed figures; seemingly in spiritual, whimsical, romantic and nostalgic moments.
Penguin
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 75,1 x 53,8 cm
Image dimension: 49,5 x 40 cm
The lip
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,6 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,7 cm
The ice breaker
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,9 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,6 cm
Sweets and salad
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,7 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,6 cm
Seriously sunset
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,4 cm
Image dimension: 31,9 x 24,6 cm
Pudding jungle
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 28,8 x 22,3 cm
Palm dreamer
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,4 cm
Image dimension: 28,4 x 22 cm
Midnight man
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,7 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 29,1 x 22,6 cm
Muse
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,7 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,6 cm
Lovers
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,6 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 28,8 x 22,2 cm
Hurry home
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,7 x 37,4 cm
Image dimension: 28,6 x 22,2 cm
Entering heaven
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,9 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 29 x 22,4 cm
Hay fever
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,6 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,6 cm
Cowboy sauna
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,9 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 28,5 x 22,1 cm
Cowboy crunchy
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,9 x 37,6 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,7 cm
Casanova
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,9 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 32 x 24,7 cm
Beach cowboy
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,2 cm
Image dimension: 28,9 x 22,4 cm
Acid park
2016
Monotype on Zerkall Litho 270gsm
Unique Print
Paper dimension: 53,8 x 37,5 cm
Image dimension: 32,8 x 24,6 cm