CappuccinoandArtJournal

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Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Wet Paint


Recently I took a Gelli plate printing workshop with Monica Lee, who is a mail art pal of mine and a wonderful artist. She is an Arist in Residence at Ruth's Table  where the workshop was.
The workshop was really fun -- kinda like a paint party....thought you might like to take a look.

And, if you're local, keep an eye on the website for more classes/workshops at Ruth's Table.
I might see you there!

Check out Monica's web site The Artful ReCrafter by clicking her name above -- she does all kinds of great things and is a master at re-using and re-purposing.

Monica brought loads of stencils and papers and paints to the workshop and after a demo she just let us all run wild!
It was too much fun.

You guys all know what a Gelli plate is, right?

You don't need much to have a whole lot of fun and be able to crank out lots of painted paper. You just need a Gelli plate, brayer, acrylic paints and paper and you're good to go.
I'm not going to try to explain it all here because there is tons of information out there about Gelli printing -- YouTube videos, books on Amazon, blogs etc

Here are a couple of interesting links --

Gelli printing by my mail art pal Leslie --  click the link! She makes some terrific prints.
Robin Mead made some fun journals using gelli pages
Gelli Arts

Karen from MMSA does it too (I love her gelli prints!)
&
Linda Germain's Gelli Post


WARNING: Gelli Printing is VERY addictive and you may get hooked on it.

You can make your own plates and Karen (link above) talks about it. I am really happy with my Gelli block though....


You can print on tags, card stock, paper, deli paper, dictionary pages......anything goes....

One of the participants had a birthday the day of the workshop and Monica even brought cake. Now that's a good teacher!
Artists running wild with sugar and paint -- always a good thing!





You can use leaves for stencils and bubble-wrap and anything with texture...


Here are some of my cards and tags....I really got into using that stencil with the circles.....

I've got kind of a fall color thing going on here.....I left the workshop with a whole bunch of printed cards and tags and I can't wait to set up shop and play some more. In fact I invited myself once again to visit Leslie (link above) for a massive gelli printing session at her studio soon.


Here are a couple of books Monica had at the workshop. I don't have them but they looked good if you're looking for a how-to book. There are quite a few of them out there...

Some of my cards -- got kind of a Halloween thing going on there with the black and orange, don't you think?

More of my cards....

I swear, I am having too much fun making cards and envelopes. Addictive.

You can gelli print on book pages like this -- dictionary pages, maps, foreign language text.....

I decided to add in some gelli pages in a travel journal I am making....here's one page...

...and here's another....

I will just collage right over this, leaving a bit of gelli peeking out.....

See what I mean?
Once you start, you just can't stop. It is perfect to do on a hot day and I am sure it will be a lot of fun to do on a cold day day. Or a rainy day.
I'm having fun.
How many of you are making gelli prints?
What are your secrets?
What do you like to print on? Any books to recommend? How do you use the papers?
I have printed on book pages, tags, card stock and deli paper......I need more ideas...

And, one last word, it really isn't as messy as some of you think it is.
The hours just speed by....very relaxing....and you end up with good stuff.
Have fun.

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35 comments:

  1. All fabulous! One of these days I will get back into it again. So, how did that Making Monotypes book look? I like the cover a lot. There no "look inside" option with this one at Amazon. I already have the other one in my cart, but I'm wondering what you thought of this book. xo

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    1. Connie -- you now, with all the excitement I really didn't get much of a chance to look at it. maybe Monica will weigh in if she sees this.....but I seem to recall she said it was good. I was going to hit up Santa for that other one....

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  2. I own a Gelli Plate and love working with it. It is fun and you keep finding new combinations to make more beautiful prints. I use the prints for bookmaking, mail art and collage. And yes it is addictive :-)

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    1. Nina -- can you buy the Gelli plates in The Netherlands? I heard people in the UK complaining they can't get them so i wondered.....

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  3. Yes Leslie is a fun gelli printing playmate!! Looking forward to seeing what the 2 of you cook up! I would invite myself too but I know how cramped THAT would be LOL Have fun!

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    1. Rhonda H -- Leslie is getting a whole invasion! She is just so great at Gelli printing, who can resist?

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  4. Wow, wow, and wow. I want to try it but I'm intimidated. I'd try it in our back yard. Maybe. Someday. You have so much fun!

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    1. Limner -- it isn't hard -- and so much fun. Ido my printing in the kitchen. Try it -- you'll like it!

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  5. Great colors and prints! Never tried gelli printing, don't even know how many people here have heard from it, but I am going to look for workshops!

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    1. TomoyoHime -- it is very popular here. Let me know if you find a workshop. Good luck.

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  6. Well, thanks Sue! I love looking at tabletops and art supplies so I shared. Thanks for commenting.

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  7. Great blog! I was looking for some snail mail inspiration, and I found your blog :) Thank you for sharing all these lovely pics! Jolana

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    1. Jolana -- well...thank you so much. Happy you found the blog and are getting inspired! If I don't make some mail art every day I start to get a little crazy. Hope you get hooked too!

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  8. Oh wow, that looks like so much fun! One of these days I'll have to unpack my plate...

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  9. Oh how I would like to be a local….

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    1. Marie W -- i wish you were a local too -- we could have a lot of fun. And I want a Kit Kat tee like Vizma's!

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  10. So easy to get completely hooked. I will be glad when I get a studio back again to do some. xox

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    1. Corrine -- I feel your pain. hang on, you will get your studio back. xoxo

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  11. And where might you be taking that travel journal, Pamela?

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  12. I love the sight of a crowded, art-full table. So many people have gotten into the gelli print making; I've been avoiding it in the interest of not getting any new art supplies! But I can definitely imagine how the paper would just FLY if I gave it a try. I really love that green circle tag you made; I have that stencil, and find the circles so appealing! I can see how the gelli plate is a great addition to mail art, too!

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    1. You don't need too much more than a gelli plate, Andria....and acrylic paint....
      You'd be great at it. i love an anrt-filled messy table top too.

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  13. Hi Pamela, please email me regarding your question about the art school in Italy. Foe some reason BLOGGER doesn't want to connect me to your email.
    dorit_elisha@yahoo.com
    ps: I am also in the Bay Area, and would like to invite you to the Book Arts Jam this Saturday, October 18.

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  14. Pamela, I am sorry I did not post my comment sooner. I have printed on: various vintage paper (typewriter and other college books, music pages, bingo cards, flash cards, telephone book pages, & postcards), paper bags, brown craft paper, scrapbook paper, toilet paper rolls, various cardboard, fabric, and more.

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    1. Thanks Lisa - better late than never! Thanks for sharing your great ideas!

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  15. fun fun fun! those tags are fabulous.
    I've printed on file folders. I glue them shut, print on both sides, and then use them as sturdy dividers so separate piles of mail. (and of course I've left some unglued and actually used them as folders!)

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    1. Karen -- that sounds fabulous and you could always send me one too ! I never give up, do I?

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  16. Pamela do you know which company makes the circle stencil you used so beautifully? I did write a comment but it didn't seem to show up - hope this isn't a duplicate! Loved this post of yours!

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    1. Jakki - I'm sorry but I don't know. The stencil was provided in the Gelli class I took. But I bet circles wouldn't be too hard to find. Check out Stencil Girl stencils.

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    2. Pamela, I spent some time looking through Google images for circle templates and I found it! Very happy! It really is a nice one.

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    3. Yay! Glad you found one -- I want to buy a circle stencil too.

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  17. This is the name of the stencil, I got it on Amazon: Folk Art 30622 Painting Stencil, Pebble Background

    I'm pretty sure it's the exact one you had in the class.

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