Kevin fletcher Fantastic Erosion
imagined ruins in monotype
California-based printmaker Kevin Fletcher's work exhibits the hallmarks of an artist who is deeply informed by the Old Masters, but who persistently searches out new and different forms of expression. With an academic background in printmaking that took him from the Midwest to New York to Italy, Fletcher has always been drawn to the possibilities of the matrix and press. However, it's the reductive-process monotype (rendered in le manière noir, or, "the black manner"), which he began seriously pursuing in the late 1990s, that captivates him to this day.
It is as much Fletcher's process as it is the final product that makes his work so remarkable. The matrix – often a piece of Plexiglas – is fully inked before Fletcher subtracts the viscous material, line by line, texture by texture, from the surface using discarded matboard and rags. Upon first glance, each piece resembles a long-exposure photograph, a delicate chiaroscuro allowing depth and atmosphere to emerge from the matrix. But the resemblance ends there, as Fletcher's technique proves surprisingly spartan upon closer inspection: his linework is brief, staccato, nearly careless, but the end result is the elegant unfolding of a diorama of space, time, movement and mood
While Fletcher's early works were often steeped in Symbolism and figurative subjects, this later work focuses on invented architecture in various stages of dilapidation, on moody twilight landscapes, and on strange fabrications of unknown origin. He does not wish to capture the stasis of the familiar, but to render it as ephemeral and ever-changing Says Fletcher of his work:
"There are sometimes cinematic references and a kind of eddying back upon my own black and white photos from travel, but this is often a subconscious, vague element in my thought process. It is really essential that I can gradually see the whole image come into view, almost like the darkroom development, so the speed of my mark making remains in cadence and does not resort to petty affectations, related to a specific location or cause."
The works included in this curation span the years 1999 to 2020, which feature Fletcher's monochromatic palettes.
Shipping Series - #6 Rail Car
Monotype, 1999; pencil signed; editioned as 1/1; printed by the artist on cream Fabriano wove paper; 8-15/16 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inventory number KEFL159. $350.
Holding Station – Strange Cargo
Monotype, 2002; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on antique-white Fabriano wove paper; 11-1/16 x 14-3/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL108. $650.
Autumn in an Ancient Foundry III
Monotype, 2002; pencil signed; unique impression; printed by the artist on antique-white wove paper; 10 x 14-5/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL150. $600.
Variations on an Industrial Epoch, no. 3
Monotype, 2004; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on antique-white Somerset wove paper; 11-7/8 x 8-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL127. $650.
Repairing Containment Wall Near Flooded Marshes
Monotype, 2007; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on ivory Japanese wove paper; 9-15/16 x 7" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL123 $425
Programable Aquatic Coordinating Information Sentry
Monotype, 2007; pencil signed; unique impression; printed by the artist on antique-white Somerset wove paper; 10-1/2 x 12-5/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL126 $600.
Isle of Dogs Nocturne
Monotype, 2008; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on ivory Japanese wove paper; 9-15/16 x 7" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL116 $500.
Framing in the Elevated Rail Line (with Raised Expectations)
Monotype, 2009; pencil signed; editioned as I/II (print II is a reworked ghost impression); printed by the artist on antique-white Somerset wove paper; 16-7/16 x 19-3/4" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL133 $850.
Turning From Wonderment to a Concrete Comprehension of Events (Finale)
Monotype, 2010; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on antique-white Fabriano wove paper; 11-15/16 x 15-7/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL132. $850.
Mid Morning Lament for the Working Man of the Ohio River Valley Monotype, 2010; pencil signed; monotype II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on antique-white Fabriano wove paper; 11-15/16 x 16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL134. $850.
Saturday's Scavengers, Below the Bridge Project Monotype, 2010; pencil signed; editioned I/I; printed by the artist on antique-white Rives BFK wove paper; 9-7/16 x 11-7/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL142. $450.
Pacific Maritime Pylon Construction #2 - Afternoon
Monotype, 2012; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on antique-white Fabriano wove paper; 12-3/8 x 13-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL189 $750.
Cathedral-Like Marine Construct for the Engineer Abraham Darby
Monotype, 2012; pencil signed; editioned II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on heavy white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 11-15/16 x 8-7/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL231. $800.
A Working Dream of Ship Building in the Clyde Basin, Glasgow
Monotype, 2012; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on heavy white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 8-7/8 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL232 $800.
Risky Speculative Bayside Venture with Additionally Anxiety Inducing Imbalance - I
Monotype in warm black ink, 2015; pencil signed; editioned as I/II (second print is a reworked ghost impression); printed by the artist on antique-white Rives BFK wove paper; 11-3/8 x 17-3/4" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL191. $800.
Pacific Marine Construction Abstraction - Morning
Monotype in blue-black ink, 2015; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on antique-white wove; 14-1/4 x 11" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL193 $750.
Not a Word Passed Between Us in Our Hiding Place
(for Henning Mankell)
Monotype in dark blue ink, 2015; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on antiquewhite wove; 14-1/2 x 19-1/2" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL195. $800.
For Admirals of the Fleet and Sundry Other Salty Dogs
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on ivory Arches wove paper; 7-7/8 x 9" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL205. $500.
Aerial Plan for a Sinewy River City I've Embraced Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on ivory Arches wove paper; 8-7/8 x 8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL202 $500.
The Warehouse, Late Afternoon as Memory Fades into Melancholy Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; unique impression; printed by the artist on ivory Arches wove paper; 9-7/8 x 8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL203. $500.
Becalmed Abandoned Industrial Interior Following a Conflagration
Monotype from a Plexiglas plate, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/II (second impression is a reworked ghost print, no. KEFL209); printed by the artist on Somerset Velvet white wove paper; 8-7/8 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL208. $600.
Morning, Becalmed Abandoned Industrial Interior Following a Conflagration
Monotype from a Plexiglas plate, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (reworked ghost impression of the first monotype, no. KEFL208); printed by the artist on Somerset Velvet white wove paper; 8-7/8 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL209. $600.
Natural Gas Plant on the Bay and the Forgiving Livers Nearby
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on Somerset Velvet white wove paper; 8-7/8 x 12" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL210. $600.
Given Just Cause to Debate the Current Administration's Projected Direction
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on ivory German Copperplate wove paper; 11-7/8 x 16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL219. $900.
'Oh, Aye, We've Voted for Brexit,' Saieth the British Midlands Industrial Sector (with Pride) Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on antique-white Somerset England wove paper; 12 x 15-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL220 $900.
Industrial Marine Construct No. 3
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as III/III (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on heavy white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 8-15/16 x 9" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL221. $500.
Industrial Marine Construct No. 1
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/III (images II and III made by using the "ghost print" of this image, then adding further detail, creating new monotypes); printed by the artist on heavy white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 8-15/16 x 9" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL223. $500.
Industrial Marine Construct No. 2
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as II/III (the first of two "ghost prints" pulled from the original, with detail added, creating new monotypes); printed by the artist on heavy white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 8-15/16 x 9" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL222. $600.
Articulated Roving Seismic Evaluator, Made of Strong Stuff –Improved Model 7B
Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on heavy Somerset white wove paper; 12-1/16 x 15-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL229. $900.
A Silent Sleeper in the Sound of Sleat, Strictly Suggested Monotype, 2017; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on heavy white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 8-7/8 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL228. $700.
Amateurish Underfunded Off-World Condo Project
Monotype, 2018; pencil signed; unique impression; printed by the artist on white Somerset England watermarked wove paper; 8-7/8 x 9" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL236 $500.
Portside Structures Designed by an Architect with a Sense of Humor Monotype, 2018; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on soft white Magnani Pescia wove paper; 9-1/16 x 7-1/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL239. $400.
Metal Alloy Fencing and Cables by Night
Monotype, 2018; pencil signed; editioned as I/II (second print is a reworked ghost impression); printed by the artist on ivory Kozo gampi torinoko wove paper; 9 x 5-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL257. $325.
An Autumnal Afternoon – Great Lake Industrial Tableau and Diminuendo, No. 3
Monotype in warm black ink, 2018; pencil signed; editioned noted as "A unique print with 'ghost' material utilized from the prior pull but reworked w/ darks on Magnani Pescia soft white [wove paper]"; printed by the artist; 8-15/16 x 11-7/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL320. $700.
The Émigré (Auslander) on a Respite from His Search for
Employment – for Thomas Prochaska, PDX
Monotype (diptych), 2018; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on cream Rives BFK white cotton rag wove; 12 x 18-7/16" total image size. Inv. no. KEFL324. $850.
Blazing Pyre in Clearing (for Dickie Lowe)
Monotype in blue-black ink, 2020; pencil signed; unique impression; printed by the artist on ivory Somerset 100% rag wove paper; 12 x 8-7/8" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL306. $600.
After Hours at the Shellac Factory
Monotype, 2020; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on ivory Rives BFK watermarked wove; 12 x 5-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL309 $600.
Edwardian Industry – Geelong, Victoria, Aus.
Monotype from Plexiglas plate, 2020; pencil signed; editioned as I/I; printed by the artist on ivory Somerset rag wove paper; 12 x 8-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL310. $600.
Once the Winds Died Down, They Assessed the Damage, Recovery
Monotype in blue-black ink from Plexiglass plate, 2020; pencil signed; editioned as II/II (image made by using the "ghost print" of another image, then adding further detail, creating a new monotype); printed by the artist on soft white Somerset England 100% cotton rag wove paper; 8-15/16 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL317 $600.
Long Dormant Sawmill in a Somber Blue Mood – January Morn
Monotype in blue-black ink from Plexiglas plate, 2020; pencil signed; edition noted as "Unique print in mixed blue in one pass from plexi – ghost used for 2nd different image"; printed by the artist on soft white Somerset England 100% cotton rag wove paper; 9 x 11-15/16" platemark. Inv. no. KEFL318. $600.
