Gel Print Experimentation

Objectives:

Students will experiment with Gel Prints by trying a variety of the following techniques:

Basic Printing Techniques:

• Monoprinting: Start with simple designs using paint on the Gelli plate. Students can use their hands, brushes, or tools to apply paint, creating a monoprint by pressing paper onto the plate.

• Layering Colors:  Students can apply multiple layers of paint in different colors. They can experiment with transparency by using lighter colors over darker ones.

Texture Creation:

• Using Found Objects: Students will use everyday objects (e.g., leaves, fabric, bubble wrap, stencils) to create textures on the Gelli plate. They can press these items into the paint to leave interesting patterns when printed.

• Tools for Texture: Students will use various tools such as combs, forks, and sponges to create lines, swirls, and patterns in the paint before printing.

Color Mixing:

• Mixing Colors: Students will experiment with mixing primary colors to create secondary colors directly on the Gelli plate reinforcing color theory.

Negative and Positive Space:

• Layering Techniques: Students will create positive and negative space by creating prints that highlight the shapes they remove from the Gelli plate versus those they leave.

• Masking: Students will use paper or tape to block off areas of the Gelli plate before printing, allowing for more controlled designs and highlighting the contrast between printed and unprinted areas.

Pattern Making:

• Repeating Patterns: Students will create a series of Gelli prints with a specific pattern, exploring how repetition can create a cohesive body of work.

• Stamps: Students can use homemade or store-bought stamps to create repeating designs on the Gelli plate before printing.

Using Paint and Inks:

• Explore Different Mediums: Students will use acrylic paints, water-based inks, or even washable markers to see how each medium interacts with the Gelli plate and the resulting prints.

Layering Prints:

• Print on Print: Once a print is made, students can allow it to dry and then layer a new color or design on top, creating a complex and rich print that shows depth.

Vocabulary:

Brayer: A hand-held roller used to spread ink or paint evenly over a surface, such as the Gelli plate.

Color Mixing: The process of combining different colors to create new hues, either by blending paint or overlaying transparent layers.

Gelli Plate: A flexible, gelatin-like surface used for monoprinting, allowing for the creation of unique prints.

Layering: The process of applying multiple layers of paint or ink to create depth, texture, and complexity in a print.

Masking: The technique of covering parts of the surface to prevent paint from reaching those areas, creating defined edges and shapes.

Monoprint: A type of printmaking that involves making a single print from a painted or inked surface, often resulting in unique designs.

Negative Space: The space around and between the subject(s) of an image; often left unpainted to emphasize the positive space.

Opacity: The opposite of transparency; it refers to the quality of a medium that does not allow light to pass through.

Positive Space: The main focus of an artwork; the subjects or elements that occupy space.

Printmaking: A process of creating artworks by printing, typically on paper. This includes various techniques such as relief, intaglio, and monoprinting.

Stamping: The act of using a stamp or a tool to press into paint and transfer a design onto paper.

Texture: The surface quality of a work of art, which can be seen (visual texture) or felt (tactile texture).

Transparency: The quality of a paint or medium that allows light to pass through, enabling layers beneath to be visible.

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