Welcome! I’m Carolyn Dube – This colorful journey is all about the freedom of play!
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The Fine Print
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When you’re gel printing, is there a magic number of colors you should use to get a good print? Should you use 3 colors or 12 colors?
Not only am I using a lot of colors, they don’t even “go together”- that is until they are layered in a gel print.
There are gorgeous prints with just 1 color and there are gorgeous prints with 10+ colors. The right number of colors depends on what you like. It’s not the number of colors that makes a print turn out well.
There’s a twist to how color works on a gel plate but once you understand that, you have the freedom to use as many colors as you wish and skip the mud.
What’s the trick to getting all the details to show up when you’re using an intricate stencil? Your fingertips.
Instead of using your whole hand, use your fingertips to push the paper into the paint. When you do that, you can capture all of the pattern, even on a intricate stencil like Downtown by Nat Kalbach for StencilGirl.
In the video you saw me walk my fingertips across the paper, and when I took the pull, it was pretty obvious which places I missed. O.O.P.S.! But what happens if you use the whole hand?
When you use your whole hand to take a print with a detailed stencil, you only get part of the image. That’s what I did when taking the pull on the brayer clean up paper.
Understanding why you get a crisp print or a partial print gives you the freedom to create the look you want for the print.
There isn’t a right or wrong when it comes to gel printing, it’s about what you like. The trick is understanding how to build layers on a gel plate so that you can create the kinds of prints you want.
Fully understanding how layering works on a gel plate takes more than 1 video so I created Mastering the Layers -an online workshop about both the techniques to create layers and the understanding of how layers interact.
Check all the details about the online workshop, Mastering the Layers and the 3 bonuses when you get signed up now.
Excited to share a Mash up collaboration with the ever fun Mary Beth Shaw with you for this month’s StencilClub release! It’s a mash up and what that means is we picked our faves from each other’s stencils and then riffed on them isolating part of the design and shifting the size up or down.
In the video, you’ll see how to use them with a gel plate for speedy stenciling and you’ll see how I handle an OOPS or two!
What’s StencilClub? It’s exclusive stencils that aren’t sold anywhere else, delivered to your door each month. It includes a 9x 12, a 6×6, and a 4×4 stencil plus there’s a members only video and downloadable PDF each month from the artist(s) who created that month’s stencils.
That means this month, you’ll get to see both our takes on playing with stencils- we’re sharing transparent parts and gelli sandwiches with club members. StencilClub is only $25 a month (yup, that includes shipping in the US)! You can find all the club details here.
The fastest way to stencil is with a gel plate. The first way I shared in the video gives you loose, mixed media type of stenciling.
But what about if you want crisp details? The fine lines of the squiggly circles were captured by putting the stencil on the plate first and then adding paint.
One of the reasons I love this mash up is the choices. After having 2 loose circle patterns, I love that there were contrasting patterns to pick from!
One of the challenges of using an altered book for a journal is that there is the middle issue. It can be tough to stencil there but if you hold the book as flat you can as you’re stenciling then the pattern will go across it.
To fill in the areas of the center that didn’t have color on them, I used an Art Crayon by Marabu.
OOPS! As soon as that white paint hit the page, I knew it was an O.O.P.S., an Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly. Never would have had that pastel touch of orange here if it wasn’t for that white paint OOPS.
When adding writing on top of paint, a patient person would wait for the paint to completely and totally dry. I’m not that patient so I use a fountain pen to scribble journal.
Fountain pens have very few parts, unlike a ballpoint pen. The tip can be wiped off if paint builds up on it, unlike felt tip pens, which struggle even on dry paint.
Gel printing directly into an art journal is one way to use these stencils, keep scrolling to see more gel printing with these!
Below are prints I made just horsing around with a gel plate and all the mash up stencils.
When you’re not gel printing directly in your art journal,what can you do with the prints? Backgrounds for art journal pages, collage, anything mixed media, and when you need a really quick card, these are so handy!
Thanks Mary Beth for being so much fun to collaborate with! This month’s StencilClub stencils ship out to you on August 15th, so get signed up before that!
Here are the supplies used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps keep the free tutorials coming!
Can creating complex layers on a gel plate be simple? Absolutely! Layering comes down to just 2 factors. Once you understand how to use these 2 factors on a gel plate, you can consistently create the kinds of prints you want. And more importantly, have even more fun printing!
You can use the slap-dash method of printing and go through the frustration of trial and error, or you can skip all that and go straight to making prints you love with Mastering the Layers. Your prints don’t have to be random luck!
“Amazing how little I knew and how much I could learn given that I’ve been using a gel plate for about 3 years now!” -Cynthia Silveri
This online workshop is about both the techniques to create layers and the understanding of how layers interact. Knowing this enables you to create the kinds of prints you want on command. The more you understand the gel plate, the more fun you can have with it!
“You have saved us so much time, so now we can just play and play and have a bit of say over the final print!! Thank you!!”-Marrianne Pagnani.
In Mastering the Layers you’ll:
Discover how to add layers and not mess up the bright, vibrant colors
Find out simple ways to achieve interest or depth in your prints
Be confident in your layering choices as you fully understand the 2 key factors that impact layering
And so much more!
Want to feel confident with your color choices?
“I’m thrilled to get past all mud!” -Sue Johnson
Color plays a huge role in gel printing and it’s covered in depth inside Mastering the Layers. This is practical color, explained in a way that can be easily applied when you’re printing.
“Years ago I took a color course at the college and still came away confused about the colors and how to use them with each other. Thank you for simplifying this for me.”-Deborah Reis
You can know color theory and still manage to fall into ugly color situations when gel printing. That’s because color on the gel plate has a bit of a twist to it that can significantly impact your colors.
Once you know how to apply that twist then you can:
vary your color combinations so your prints don’t all look the same at the end of a printing session
know just the right amount of paint you need to use
get colors to integrate and blend without a blocky look
“NOW I understand why so many of my prints are dark and gloomy! Thanks, Carolyn!” -Deanna Robbins
“This class brought me to art again. And I am so happy!” -Andrea Miller
Layered prints look thought out, yet so random at the same time. Is it serendipitous or is it planned?
There’s always an element of serendipity to gel printing, but knowing how to layer means you can steer the serendipity in the direction you want to go.
“You make it very easy to understand what to do when…Thank you!” -Lisa Mendez
What about making a series of prints with more control?
When you possess an understanding of the layering process, you can create a repeatable series of prints.
This was really fun. Such an easy technique but such fantastic results. Love it!!! -Maggie Hanus
What about the ugly prints?
Ugly prints happen to us all, including me. But when you understand the layers, you can rescue it! Often the ugliest prints become my favorite by just adding a few more layers. I’m sharing how I do that in your first bonus:
What To Do with an Ugly Print. In this video, you’ll be looking over my shoulder to see specific ways ugly prints can be rescued. It’s not random how they’re transformed into prints you love, it’s a matter of understanding how to layer.
Bonus Videos 2 & 3
2nd Bonus: The Painterly Brayer that gives you the one simple thing to do to create loose brush stroke looking prints using a brayer.
3rd Bonus: The Crackle Effect where you see how to create the cracked and aged look on command.
“This is the best online class I’ve ever enrolled in.” -Amy Schneider
“Wow! I have learned so much in just a few lessons! As a former art teacher I appreciate that you are so prepared for your classes and there is no wasted time.” -Sandra Pineault
What’s included in Mastering the Layers:
15 lessons all with downloadable videos
3 bonus videos
over 4+ hours of carefully edited instruction! Each lesson thoughtfully chosen to build your understanding one step at a time so you can easily apply it while printing.
This three week workshop begins the moment you register. Immediately upon registering, you’ll get the entire first week (5 videos) and then for each of the two following weeks, you’ll get 5 new lessons. That’s a total of 15 videos with lifetime access. Actually, 18 because there are three bonus videos! On top of that, there are getting started videos for you if you’re new to gel printing.
How long is the workshop?
This is a three week workshop that begins the moment you register. Each week, you get 5 new lessons with lifetime access.
How long is each lesson?
The lessons are about 15 minutes long, some a little longer, some a little shorter. They are all edited so that you can get the key information and get to playing.
I’ve never gel printed before. Can I make prints like this?
Absolutely- everything you need to know is in this workshop. This is a great way to get started because this workshop includes techniques, but more importantly it breaks down the process so you can fully understand the hows and whys of gel printing.
I’ve been making prints for a while, will this workshop help me make better prints?
Yes! Because this workshop is about more than just techniques, it’s about understanding why the layers do what they do. As you know, once you understand how a tool works, then the sky’s the limit.
I’m new to online workshops, how does this work?
Once you register, you’ll log into the classroom to access the lessons and videos. You can do this on a computer, a tablet, or mobile device.
This is a three week online workshop that begins the moment you register. Each week, you get 5 new lessons, each with a video.
All the videos are downloadable and have closed captions. You have lifetime access once you’re a member, so you can stream them online or watch them offline- whichever fits your schedule best.
I am here to help you throughout the workshop, so if you have any questions about the lessons or videos, simply ask them on the lesson page and I’ll get you an answer.
The basic supplies you’ll need are a gel plate, any size, a soft rubber brayer, paper, acrylic paints, and texture/pattern making tools such as stencils and found objects like bubble wrap.
What kind and size of gel plate do I need?
The important thing about your gel plate is that it has squish. Not a technical term, but when you push on it is should have some bounce to it and why I love using Gel Press plates. As for size, that is personal preference. If you like to work big, get a bigger plate, if you like to work small, get a smaller plate. If you’re not sure, then go for the middle with an 8 x 10 size.
Do I need a specific kind of paint?
You need acrylic paint, it can be any brand, any color. Acrylic paints are the ones that clean up with water.
How long do I have to watch the videos?
You have as long as you need. You have lifetime access to the workshop.
Do the videos have closed captions?
Yes, every video has captions.
Can I watch it on an iPad or mobile device?
Yes, you can watch any of the videos on any device. The videos are hosted at Vimeo and they have a mobile app so you can even download them onto your mobile device.
Is there a Facebook group?
There is no longer a Facebook group for this workshop. Now we can share photos directly inside the classroom.
Is there a guarantee?
Absolutely. It’s important to me that you have the workshop that is right for you. That’s why I offer a 14 day no hassle money back guarantee. How does it work? Just email me within 14 days from when you join and let me know in a one line email that the workshop isn’t right for you. I’ll get you a prompt and full refund.
What if I have a question you haven’t answered here?
over 4+ hours of carefully edited instruction! Each lesson thoughtfully chosen to build your understanding one step at a time so you can easily apply it while printing.
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