Engraving: A Turning Point

A two months silkscreen training course in Normandy (France) marks a turning point in Marie-Denise Douyon's works.The engraving techniques trigger her imagination and fascinate her. Back in Montreal, she has a hand made wooden press built by a carpenter and she engages in the process of exploring engraving and creating monotypes.*

To these unique monotypes, she adds a touch of coloured pencils and watercolour, thus creating the illusion of collage.

During the autumn 1999, forsaking the traditional tools of the engraver, she prefers using, tubes of glues and glue guns to draw. Finally, she reverses the process of engraving. The engraving plate is no longer seen as preparatory element but becomes the final artwork. Abstract qualities emerge from the new works created from the plates. The treatment of the final work becomes an incredible paradox, at the same time more abstract and extremely realistic.

The themes also evolve. The composition focuses on temporality and is often depicted in a diptych or a triptych. The word, the language, all the oral tradition that was often used in filigree in her previous works bursts in this series of monotypes.

*Monotype: Engraving process which allows the artist to create a single and unique print.