A Video Guide - Gel Plate Printing for Beginners
Staying creative - an introduction to the fun world of the gel plate.
As The Ageing Optimist does not fit snuggly into any one box, it is quite a quest to keep everyone happy each week when posts can vary and cover a wide range of topics. When subscribers choose to say goodbye because a post arrives in their mail box that is not of particular interest, it always makes me want to contact them and plead ‘Please don’t leave - there’ll be something for you soon, I promise!’ I was trying to describe my presence here to someone recently and the best analogy I could think of was along the lines of ‘The Ageing Optimist is an entertaining magazine for interesting and engaged people no longer in the flush of youth, but it only covers one subject a week.’ There are far too many wonderful things in this world for me to pick a niche so please bear with me as I jump about from pillar to post on those things that fascinate and enthral me and hopefully occasionally resonate with you too. This week the subject is art.
Being creative, and there are countless ways to expressive our creativity, takes up a very big slice in my life’s happiness pie chart. Without it there is a void that is nothing else can fill, I might a well pour water through a sponge. Whether painting, writing, photographing or messing about with the gel plate, those precious moments are when I switch off, I am on my own, in my own space. The time belongs to no-one but me. A clock has no place in the studio, often I become aware of the day passing by only when the light becomes too dark to see without a light.
This week, as something a little different to my usual Thursday newsletter I have made a video on the gel plate (also called a gel press or gelli plate) for anyone who would like to have a go at this fun creative hobby or those wanting to introduce something new into their existing creative process. I will spend my last breath encouraging others to take up a creative pastime, not in any professional capacity but solely on the basis of the many benefits it imparts into my own life. Share the love, as I often say.
The gel plate is not difficult to use, fun for all ages and levels of ability, with no artistic skills or previous training required. A great way to explore printing without the need for a printing press and once the basics are mastered the possibilities are endless.
Below is a random selection of the easy prints made this morning, these were all printed very quickly, just to give you an idea of interesting effects that can be created with just a gel plate, a brayer, a few acrylic paints and paper.
As always, it would be lovely to read your comments and hear about your creative passions and inspirations.
I will be back next week with a different subject!
Lots of love,
Lindsey x
I use the Gelli plate ❤️❤️. It’s really fun. I print leaves and then free motion quilt them and then mount on canvas. Have sold a few but I do it for gifts and me.
Always a lovely variety of subjects to read in your posts Lindsey. I find it best not to even look at subscriber numbers so I have no idea if people have unsubscribed or not.
You have reminded me it has been a while since I dug out my gel plate.