RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield Library Gallery, 472 Main Street in Ridgefield, will present “Making Monotypes — The Painterly Print,” featuring original monotypes by regional artists including one Newtown resident, April 2-29.

An opening reception is planned for Saturday, April 6, 2-4 pm.

The group exhibition will offer visitors works by Scott Bricher, Barbara Cover, Joan Macfarlane, Roberta Shea, Mary Terrizzi and Nancy Zarider. Shea is a resident of Newtown. Cover lives in Roxbury, Bricher and Terrizzi live in Kent, and Macfarlane and Zarider are residents of Sharon.

Monotypes are one-of-a-kind prints made by painting an image onto a non-absorbent surface. With the additive approach, ink is then applied with brushes or rolled onto the flat surface with brayers. This allows the artist to work in a natural way in painterly strokes. The plate can be metal, plastic, or glass.

The opposite approach, or reductive approach, is working from a dark background and removing ink with stiff brushes, wedges, Q-tips, or even fingers.

To print the plate, paper is placed over the plate and pressure is applied by using a press or by hand transfer usually allowing for only one print.

Shea said making original monotypes has “liberated my painting and painting has informed my prints. I love the element of surprise.”

These six Connecticut artists met in the Washington Arts Association print studio under the direction of Master Printmaker Anthony Kirk. Because the monotype is more spontaneous than other print processes, it allows artists to experiment with new forms of expression. Furthermore, working in the studio with other artists encourages creativity and exchange of ideas.