Gel Plate Printing Inspired by Nature

Gel Plate Printing Inspired by NatureCourse Code: 26SPM003V This virtual workshop takes place on Zoom on Sunday, February 8th, from 11AM to 1PM ET. Sunday, February 8th, from 11AM to 1PM ET. Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on January 25th, at 11: 59pm Eastern Time. About the Workshop: Create a set of stunning monoprint cards, using a gel plate and found objectsspecifically leaves from trees, bushes, or houseplants. In this two hour workshop with Elaine G, Chu, students

Course Code: 26SPM003V

This virtual workshop takes place on Zoom on Sunday, February 8th, from 11AM to 1PM ET.

• Sunday, February 8th, from 11AM to 1PM ET. 

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on January 25th, at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

About the Workshop:

Create a set of stunning monoprint cards, using a gel plate and found objects—specifically leaves from trees, bushes, or houseplants. In this two-hour workshop with Elaine G, Chu, students will work with botanical elements as silhouette masks while also making ghost prints with fine detail.  

The instructor will present demos and provide tips on techniques. Each participant will print several cards or single sheets. We will use one of the cards as a cover for sewing a pamphlet-stitch book. Most of class time will be spent with participants doing hands-on printing while having the opportunity to share art in progress. 

All levels welcome. No previous experience or printing presses required!

Required Materials:

Please have these items measured and cut prior to the workshop to ensure you will have time to complete the entire project.

Tools:

• 4 x 5" gel plate (larger plate can be cut down to size if you'd like to print on standard-size cards)
• 3 or 4" brayer (either hard or soft roller)
• Large-eye needle (bookbinding needle preferred, but an embroidery needle is fine too!)
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors

Materials:

• Four to six leaves from outdoors or houseplants
• 5 sheets of standard 8-1/2 x 11" text-weight paper (eg. photocopy paper) cut down to 8-1/2"(w) x 5-1/2"(h). Yields 10 sheets total.
• Scrap paper to protect work surface
• Ten blank A2 cards (4-1/4" x 5-1/2" folded) and envelopes (alternatively, ok to print on large single sheets too)
• Acrylic inks, 4 or more colors—kind that comes out of a tube preferred (others types may work too)
• 25" length linen thread. (Can substitute embroidery floss.)

About the Instructor

Elaine G. Chu has taught students of all ages in person and online. Her work has been featured in “Greencraft” and“Somerset Studio” magazines as well as “1000 Artists’ Books.” She co-authored “Wood Paper Scissors,” a how-to crafts book. Elaine received a B.A. in music at Yale University and a B.F.A. in graphic design at University of the Arts. You can view more of her work at EGChuHandcrafted.etsy.com and @egchu1 on Instagram.

All images courtesy of the instructor.