Mixed Media Tutorial: 4 Step Gelli Plate Intro

Mixed Media Tutorial: 4 Step Gelli Plate Intro

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I'm super excited to share with you some tutorials using one of my favorite tools, the Gelli Plate. I use it a lot and I can't believe I haven't shared it with you yet. It is definitely in my top ten tools for mixed media art. I have the 6"x6" one, but really want all of them, there is just so much you can do with both the little ones and the larger ones. I also think the circle one is really cool too.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 Today I'm going to show how I prep my papers and then a base print with the Gelli Plate. This is going to be a series because there is just so much you can do with it. Have I told you how much I love this tool?!

SUPPLIES:

4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

GESSO PREPPING YOUR PAPERS

I want to prep my paper with a thin coat of gesso before I begin. This is totally personal preference, and you can skip this part. The reason I do it is to conserve paint. Because it is a barrier, the paint won't soak into the paper and then you can see the nice bright and vibrant colors since they sit on top of the gesso.

STEP ONE: Pour out some Gesso and dip your palette knife into it.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 STEP TWO: spread it on your papers in a nice thin coat. You don't need a lot, a little goes a long way.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 STEP THREE: Let it dry. I even left a few areas without the gesso. This will give it a different effect and that's the fun part of mixed media.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

GELLI PRINTING BACKGROUND

Here's where the fun part begins. No too prints will ever be the same and that's what makes this so much fun. As you can see, I don't clean my plate off. The fun in this is that I'll transfer some of that leftover paint onto my prints and it makes for a really cool effect and texture.

 STEP ONE: add little dots of paint, (not a lot) in a few different colors onto the plate.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 STEP TWO: using your brayer, spread it around to blend the colors into a thin layer
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 STEP THREE: lay some paper over the top and press down with your hand or your brayer to transfer the paint from the plate to your paper. I have layered two 4"x6" cards on top.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 STEP FOUR: Pull back your cards and VIOLA! Aren't they gorgeous?! But WAIT, I'm not done yet!
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards
Continue to repeat the steps over and over again with different colors and layers of gelli printing.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 This is too much paint, just FYI... OOPS!!!
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 It's ok though, just don't press down as hard and let it dry longer before you add more layers.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 You can see the plate on the left, it still has a good amount of paint on it...
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 Since it still has a good amount of paint on it, I'm going to get another print from it, WOOT!!!
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 This time I pressed down to get a good print since the paint was a thinner layers... Look at the blue flecks of paint that was leftover from the plate, YUM!
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 It's all about the layering and adding more color. As you can see I'm sticking to colors that are close to each other on the color wheel by choosing purples, pinks, reds, and oranges. If I were to add greens or blues, I'd get a muddy color that I don't want... for now!
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 Now these cards are really starting to look yummy and very fallish.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 I still have some color left over after that print... but not enough for another print...
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 So, I'm adding more paint on top of it, to help pick up the leftover paint.
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

 This is what my cards look like after adding those layers of printing. They totally remind me of the fall colors outside right now. I can't wait to show you what you can do with these next week!
4 step tutorial for creating a fun and simple background using a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate and journal cards

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a small commission on purchases made, using my link. Thank you for your continued support in keeping this blog running and to help purchase supplies for the tutorials and inspiration!
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