Stop guessing.
Start printing with confidence.
Start printing with confidence.
Finally understand how your paints behave—without overthinking color theory.
Unlock the secret power of layering color and create beautiful, harmonious prints through curious experimentation and play.
A Common Frustration,
a Surprising Discovery
a Surprising Discovery
I’ve seen it again and again in the studio—someone picks colors they love, rolls out their first few layers, and then… disappointment.
They print a light transparent color over something darker, expecting it to pop. Instead, it disappears. The contrast is gone. The excitement fades.
Most people think they’re doing something “wrong.” They ask:
Should I be printing light to dark?
Is there a rule I don’t know?
Why does this color look totally different now?
Here’s the truth:
There’s no single right order. But there is a system that helps you uncover how your paints behave—and how to use that knowledge to create beautiful surprises on purpose.
If you've ever wished you could peek inside your paints' potential, this is your Pandora moment.
Introducing Pandora’s Palette:
A Two-Part Journey in Layered
Color Discovery
A Two-Part Journey in Layered
Color Discovery
This two-part online, self-paced course invites you to follow your curiosity, explore unexpected outcomes, and unlock the hidden magic inside the colors you already have—without getting bogged down in color theory.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel more in control of your color results—without giving up spontaneity—Pandora’s Palette is for you.
Create a one-of-a-kind color resource.
Here’s an example of the unique color resource you’ll create by completing Essentials.
Essentials: Discover Unexpected
Color Magic on the Gel Plate
You’ll create your own personalized color reference—using the paints you already own—to see how different layering orders completely change your results.
This is your guided exploration of the color mysteries living right on your palette.
- Step-by-step video lessons—easy to follow, even if you’re new to gel printing
- My 3-print registration system makes layering easier, faster, and more consistent
- Printable worksheets guide your printing process—no need to rewatch videos every time you test a new color combo
- A color-tracking spreadsheet where you can log your paints and note unique characteristics as you print
- Supportive student community—share your prints, ask questions, and connect inside the course and on our private Facebook page
By the end of Essentials, you’ll have your own printed key to the “Pandora box” of your paints—a color guide that reveals their true behavior when layered.
Master Class: Layer Like a Pro and create frame-worthy prints
Building on your discoveries from Essentials, you’ll learn how to make advanced prints that are both layered and composed—with a little help from masks, stencils, and a few clever tricks.
You'll finish with frame-worthy work and a renewed sense of creative freedom.
- Advanced demos that build directly on what you learned in Essentials
- Tips for designing stencils and masks that pull your composition together
- Clever tools for simplifying decisions about contrast, opacity, and layout
- A DIY color aid to help you choose paint pen embellishments with confidence
- Continued access to the private Facebook group—share your progress, ask questions, and stay inspired alongside other students
Master Class is where everything clicks: your curiosity becomes creation, and your prints come alive with layers of meaning and surprise. Over 4 hours of video.
Who This Course Is (and Isn’t) For
Pandora’s Palette is for you if:
- You love working with color but wish you understood your paints better
- You’re curious about how layering changes results—and want a system that shows you
- You’re a playful experimenter who appreciates structure (but not rules)
- You want to create more intentional, beautiful gel prints using what you already have
This might not be for you if:
- You’re looking for a traditional color theory course
- You want fast, formulaic “use these three colors” answers
- You’re not interested in experimenting or learning through hands-on play
- You don’t enjoy printing in multiple layers
What Students Are Saying
"Oh Diane, I just spent yesterday watching all of the essentials videos! I am so thrilled with your system of discovery and love that you are discovering right along with us. This is as close to being in the studio with you as it gets."
— Marsha
“I am loving this Pandora exercise and the exciting colors I’m making for the first time. THANK YOU, Diana. Another great class you so meticulously constructed.”
— Patty
"This is the class I’ve been waiting for, Diane. I finally understand printing in a way I didn’t before. You’re an inspiration!"
— Cindy (Pandora's Palette Essentials)
“Golly Diana, your lessons are so clear & easy to follow.”
— Sue
“I love your honest approach and the calm overall tone.”
— Sari
I love color and have many books on color combinations and mixing. This course is so much more fun than just making color swatches. I will be referring to all my layered Gelli print swatches for many years.
— Wendy (Pandora's Palette Essentials)
"This glaze demo floored me! Thank you for including it. Very cool!
— Stephanie (Pandora's Palette Master Class)
“It is so incredible that you have in place certain things to help people in your course, CC and transcripts, but for me, they mean the difference between just watching a video and really learning.”
— Leslie
Choose Your Path
Pandora’s Palette Essentials
Start here if you want to explore more possibilities than printing light to dark or dark to light.
Essentials is for artists who have heard familiar advice about layering order but haven’t had a clear way to explore what actually happens when colors are layered in different sequences on the gel plate.
In this course, you’ll explore how individual paint colors behave when layered in different orders. Through hands-on experimentation, you’ll develop a more effective way of applying paint to the gel plate, allowing each color to interact, shift, and reveal its unique qualities — without relying on formulas or traditional color theory.
Choose Essentials if you want to:
- Understand what each of your paint colors can actually do on the gel plate
- See how changing layering order affects color interaction and visibility
- Build confidence through direct experimentation rather than assumed rules
Pandora’s Palette Master Class
Continue here if you want tools that help you make confident decisions before the final layer.
The Master Class is for artists who already understand that layering order matters and want more control before committing to finishing choices. In this course, you’ll learn practical ways to test, preview, and evaluate color decisions so you can move forward with confidence rather than guesswork.
You’ll explore techniques that help you assess background, embellishment, and finishing layers before they touch the plate, along with approaches for adding depth through glazing and additional colors when a print needs more life — all without relying on formulas or rigid rules.
Choose Master Class if you want to:
- Make confident finishing decisions without fear of ruining a print
- Evaluate background, embellishment, and finishing layers before committing
- Expand your process beyond three layers with intention
* Most Popular Choice *
Pandora’s Palette Bundle
The complete experience — from discovery to confident application.
Start by understanding how your colors behave, then move into using that knowledge with confidence and clarity.
Choose the bundle if you want to:
- Understand how individual paint colors behave when layered in different orders
- Apply that understanding using practical tools and preview methods
- Build a repeatable approach to color layering that supports confident decisions you can return to again and again
Pandora's Palette
Pandora's Palette
Pandora's PaletteThis is a two-part course. You can purchase each part separately or save with the Bundle!
If you have a discount code, please enter it at checkout.
OR
Bundle both parts of Pandora with Lots of Layers and save even more!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience do I need?
Beginners are absolutely welcome! If you’ve done a little gel printing before—even just some casual experimenting—you’ll be right at home. I highly recommend spending some time playing with your gel plate before you begin. The more comfortable you are with the basics, the more fun you’ll have following your curiosity through the course.
What supplies will I need?
You’ll need basic gel printing supplies: a gel plate, brayer, acrylic paints, and paper. That’s it to get started!
A full supply list for Essentials is available here.
The supply list for Master Class will be included inside the course.
Are the videos captioned?
Yes! All videos include English captions and transcripts to support different learning styles. You can also pause, rewatch, or slow down the pace as needed.
Do I need to have taken any of your other courses first?
Nope! Pandora’s Palette Part Essentials is designed to be a fresh start. If you’re new to gel printing or just want a deeper understanding of your paints, you’re in the right place. That said, I recommend spending some time playing with your gel plate before you begin.
How is the course delivered?
Everything is 100% online and self-paced. You can log in anytime, from anywhere, and revisit the lessons as often as you'd like.
How long will I have access to the course?
Forever! You can return to the lessons anytime and work at your own pace.
What if I don’t like the course?
Because this is a digital course with instant access, refunds aren’t available. Please read the full course description before enrolling. If something unexpected comes up, you’re always welcome to reach out.
Which course is right for you?
Thinking about taking Lots of Layers?
Here’s how it compares to Pandora’s Palette so you can choose the right creative path for you.
Here’s how it compares to Pandora’s Palette so you can choose the right creative path for you.
| Feature/Focus | Pandora's Palette | Lots of Layers | |
|---|---|---|---|
Color Exploration | Encourages random color selections to explore how layering changes results (Part 1) | Guides students through various color schemes—black & white, monochromatic, analogous, complementary, then random | |
| Composition Approach | Composition created primarily with masks and stencils applied in the final layer (Part 2) | Composition developed intuitively, layer by layer, with ongoing adjustments | |
| Course Structure | Two-part course: Part 1 builds a color guide; Part 2 advances layering, color, and embellishment techniques | Single comprehensive course with continuous development of layering and composition | |
| Skill Level | Beginner to intermediate; emphasis on experimentation and discovery | Intermediate; students make intuitive decisions as they layer | |
| Goal | Understand your paints deeply and create intentional layered prints with playful structure | Develop confidence working with composition and layers that add depth | |
| Community Access | Private Facebook group for both courses, plus ongoing support | Same community and support environment |
Ready to Unlock Your Paints’ Hidden Magic?
You’ve seen how Pandora’s Palette works.
Now choose your enrollment option and begin.
Choose your option and enroll now—let’s open the box and make some magic!
Introductory Prices
Applicable taxes calculated at checkout.
Pandora's Palette is a two-part course. You can purchase each part individually or save with the Bundle!
If you have a discount code, please enter it at checkout.
Online, self-paced, and yours to keep!
You’ll get lifetime access to both courses—revisit anytime, at your own pace, from wherever you are.
Please note: Because this is a digital course with instant access, refunds are not available. Be sure to read all course details before enrolling. If you experience an unexpected issue, feel free to reach out.
Need a payment plan? Purchase on Etsy!
A little about me
A day-long professional development class for art teachers during the summer of 2020 got me hooked on gel printing from the get-go! It was the summer of Covid; I barely left the house and couldn't make prints fast enough!
Over time I have developed my own techniques, and I'm happy to pass them on to you. I recently retired after 21 years of teaching children so I can spend more time on my art and on teaching those who are truly passionate about creating.
I hope you'll join me. There's more to come!
Diana
