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Color, Pattern, & Texture in One Pull

A lot can happen in one single pull when gel printing. Texture, pattern, and color can all happen simultaneously! I’m dipping my brayer in paint as I do this, and you’ll see why this is helpful in the video plus you’ll see which actor I credit for sparking the design idea of these stencils.

When you use 2 colors of paint, a light and dark of the same color, with this technique you get a subtle effect of colors blending. Plus, you get a ghost print using the Overlapping Circles Filled stencil that looks very different from the first pull.

This time, it was 4 colors of paint blending together. You can avoid mud by using all warm colors (as I did) or all cool colors.

This stencil collection is an exploration of how everything’s connected. But what got me thinking of that months before COVID happened?

Six degrees of Kevin Bacon. While playing that game my mind went to how things overlap, how connections exist even where you don’t think they do. Now that the world is facing this virus together, it’s a reminder of how the entire planet is connected.

Along with getting pattern, texture, and color variation all in one pull there is another benefit. It’s a very speedy way to stencil. If you’re at all impatient and like to do things quickly, stencils and a gel plate are the way to go!

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  • Pat G. April 30, 2020, 3:18 pm

    What brand is that little brayer? I think I’d prefer to use it over the 4 in wide one!

  • Lisa Hobbs May 1, 2020, 5:29 pm

    Finially found my gell plate, Might have a play after seeing this.
    Thanks for the inspiration

  • Adrienne Howard May 2, 2020, 6:55 am

    What weight paper do you use for your pull?

    • Carolyn Dube May 10, 2020, 12:18 pm

      I tend to use 90lb cardstock but that’s just personal preference.

  • Mel May 2, 2020, 8:57 am

    I’ve been using the gel-printer for years, but I never miss your videos. I learn so many more techniques from watching them. Thank you, I know it entails labor to produce these, but you are helping us all to grow. I’m a retired art teacher who is finally having time to “play” and loving every moment of it!!! Again, thank you!!

  • NK Dunkerley May 3, 2020, 7:33 pm

    just got some of these stencils… they are inviting me to get out the paints. thanks for the ideas and going to the trouble to video and post them.