When I went to NYC with Lauren a few weeks ago, we also planned a few days of what we call ART CAMP at her house. I always loved summer camp ... the fun of hanging out with friends in a new environment and learning new things. This year's Art Camp plan was to learn how to print with Gelli Plates.
I bought a Gelli Plate some time ago, but had never opened it. I had also bought a selection of Golden Acrylics using various coupons that remained unopened. We read a few tutorials, wrote down a few ideas, and just spent one entire day printing. We even watched a few Videos where we learned one of our favorite techniques, the **clean-up print**.
Here is a photo of all of my prints from that day (over 50).
We learned that while the Golden Acrylics worked extremely well (especially the metallics), other acrylic paints produced their own cool effects.
Here are the first four prints I made. The top right is the **clean-up**.
On day two of Art Camp, we decided to make some things with our Gelli Prints. I spent a lot of time playing with Markers, Gesso & Rub-ons.
and I think this one is my favorite.
Here's a close-up of one using the cool metallic paints.
We had so much fun (I think it's more fun doing with project with someone, because then you have another set of eyes to oooo and ahhhh over the various results ... because you never quite know what you're going to get when you lift of your paper).
A few other tips, have a large space to lay out your prints to dry (we used sheets of butcher paper on the floor). We also learned to keep a clean brayer to roll the back of the paper when it's on the plate to get a nice print.
And lastly, if you don't particularly love a print, let it dry and print again. Some of our favorites didn't emerge until the 2nd, 3rd or 4th layer of ink was applied. Most of all, just play and have fun.
