gelatin print tips

Gelatin Printmaking is experimental and unpredictable. But the more you print and play, the sooner you will develop your own expression of the monotype process.

I have been exploring the process since 2008. And I still come up with new ideas, tools and techniques.

1 – Print with lots of light layers

This post has examples of printing with thin light layers to create rich prints with depth.

2 – One way to create successful prints

Here, I share a couple of ways that I structure a printing session to create pleasing prints. READ and try it.

3 – Commom “mistakes” and quick fixes

Check out this post, I share steps to get beyond slumps and mistakes that we can fall into when gelatin printmaking.

If you make the most growth when you have the support of a class then check out the current offerings on the Printmaking Workshops page.

I have been exploring the basics of brayering and layering in gelatin printmaking.

One of the important concepts is to print thin layers from light to dark.

Another way I create interest is to print on only parts of the plate. That allows for lots of crisp colors.

I also think that stencils of different line quality and shape help to create interest.

The most important thing is to print a lot and be willing to experiment.

If you need the recipe to make the glycerin and gelatin plate for gelatin printmaking – get it here.

I like using a tiny gelatin plate and  a spongy brayer to print fabric totes.

I use:

1. pre-washed cotton tote bag
2. acrylic craft paint
3. soft spongy brayer from Hobby Lobby
4. small homemade gelatin plate – Recipe

I stick the gelatin plate to a small piece of glass and hold it in my hand like a stamp.

If you want to learn all the ins and outs of gelatin printmaking, then  join us in the next session of the online printmaking class, Make Monotypes.

Read all the details on the printmaking workshop page.

Printing with leaves and ferns always amazes folks who are new to gelatin printmaking.

And I have a great collection of ferns and leaves that I use all the time in my printmaking.

The more twisted and uneven the better.  I think those kinds of fern shapes are more interesting than the perfectly shaped ones.

If you want some help making a bunch of botanical prints, then check out the online printmaking classes.

The thing that is so amazing is that it is possible to get nearly photographic details of the leaves and ferns, with just hand pressure.

Need to make a gelatin and glycerin plate, get the FREE recipe and you will be printing soon!

One way to work up an image when you are gelatin printing is to ink sections of the plate rather than cover the whole plate with a thin layer of ink.

This will allow for:

• Interesting division of space
• More control over layers
• A stronger range of value – dark to light

Today I printed on 4 sheets of paper with a couple of fresh leaves and mostly red, yellow and orange speedball water based block printing inks,

I did not have a plan. I just wanted to play with working with:

• limited stencils
• a couple of colors and
• working parts of plate separately

I collected all the detailed impressions on one sheet of paper.

This one was a “catch all” sheet of paper and I did not print with a lot of intention and in the end it all came together. I think that is an important approach to gelatin printmaking.

“Let go and be in the flow.”

If you would like some more guidance on gelatin plate printmaking then check out the online self study workshop – Gelatin Printmaking.

SaveSave