Last month I started a gel printing class with botanicals, then moved on to masks, stencils, and texture tools. The funny thing is, I was still so enthralled with the leaves that I just kept using them. Here are three prints that happened when I kept asking, "What happens if I add one more thing?"
Read more...During my 100-Day Project, three unexpected objects became favorite texture tools: a building block base, a paper doily, and a wooden heart pattern. None of them are fancy, but all three created textures I absolutely love.
Read more...What happens when you create 100 prints using only six paint colors? This colorful experiment surprised me and revealed an important lesson about creativity, limitations, and unexpected possibilities.
Read more...A little coffee cup, a pile of paint colors, and a long family history of indecision. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I’m sharing the origin story of my color gods and how random color selection became one of my favorite ways to learn, experiment, and build confidence on the gel plate.
Read more...Getting cleaner results with foam stamps on the gel plate may be simpler than you think. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I share a few easy adjustments that can help your stamps leave clearer impressions—plus a look at the beautiful layered textures they can create.
Read more...When layering gel prints, the first layer you print becomes the most “true” version of that color. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, see how changing the order of red, orange, and blue creates completely different results—and why it matters.
Read more...Sometimes a layered print just needs a little something extra. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I share a simple toothpick trick for adding small dots of saturated color to bring a little spark back into your prints.
Read more...A simple set of color tests can reveal a lot before you commit to a final print. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I share how testing different reds, pinks, and blues for my grandson Elliot’s birthday prints led to some surprisingly different results.
Read more...A simple glaze can completely shift how a layered gel print feels. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I share how adding a translucent light purple layer softened stark white areas and gently unified the entire composition.
Read more...Collaging between layers can happen two ways: using the gel plate to apply the paper, or gluing directly to the print when the composition calls for it. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I share how I decide which method to use and why edges can change the plan.
Read more...A Sticky Situation: Ever tried adding collage paper directly to a gel print from the plate? Here’s what I learned and how to avoid a sticky mess.
Read more...An unlikely color combo turned into a perfect Mardi Gras palette. In this Quick Tip Tuesday, I’m sharing how hooker’s green, magenta, and metallic gold layered together—and why order matters more than you think.
Read more...A quick look at how paint opacity affects layered gel prints. Using the same base color, this Quick Tip shows how transparent, semi-opaque, and opaque paints behave differently—and why it’s worth paying attention.
Read more...A super simple way to transfer handwriting and drawings onto your gel plate using pencil, charcoal, or soft pastel—no paint or medium needed for the transfer step (plus an easy cleanup tip).
Read more...There’s more than one way to blend paint on a gel plate. Try swirling with a brayer or smoothing with a palette knife to see how different techniques change the final look of your print.
Read more...If you crop your gel prints (or any artwork) for greeting cards or collage, you may accidentally mark up the front while cutting. This simple change protects your surface and gives you clean results every time.
Read more...It’s easy to fall into habits in gel printing without even noticing. This simple shift—only applying paint where you actually want it—can unlock more control, subtlety, and creativity in your layered prints.
Read more...I’ll admit it—I let paint build up on my brayers. I actually like the layers of color that form over time, but eventually little bits of dried paint start to make the surface a little too rough, and that’s when I know it’s time for a good cleaning.
Read more...If adding marks with paint pens to your gel prints or other artworks makes you nervous, you’re not alone. It can feel intimidating to put a permanent mark on something you’ve worked hard on—but there are a couple of simple ways to make it easier.
Read more...Dried paint can be left for texture or effects, but when it’s not intentional, it can affect your next layer. Here’s my favorite way to clean gel plates so your prints stay fresh.
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