NUDE
Mark Vallen 2006
Monotype print - Oil on paper 8" x 14"
Private collection

Here's what Vallen had to say about the creation of his monotype print:

"I created this print for And Now, For Something Newd, a unique show curated by artist J. Michael Walker. Held at Avenue 50 Studio in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, the uncommon group exhibit showcased artworks portraying the nude human figure. I’ve long appreciated Walker for his impeccable draftsmanship and commitment to craft, so when he asked me to participate in a show he was curating I was immediately interested.

Walker’s concept for the exhibit was deviously simple - pick established artists not known for doing nudes, and challenge them to depict the unclothed human form. I saw the proposal as an opportunity to put myself to the test, so I accepted Walker’s offer without hesitation. I turned to my love of printmaking and created monotype prints for the show.

My expressionistic paintings of a female figure were painted directly on glass with oil paints, and then hand rubbed to pull the impressions. While the works are figurative, I was striving to generate images full of spontaneity and gesture - compositions without the level of detail I’m known for."