Gel Plate Printing Inspired by Nature
Event Info
This class will take place on:
- Sunday, March 2nd 11:00am–1:00pm ET
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 give a brief history of printing (both Eastern and Western,) 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
- 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)
- Twelve 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)
- Large-eye needle
- 25″ length linen thread. (Can substitute embroidery thread or sewing thread doubled.)
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- 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
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.
Class size is limited to ensure an optimal participant to instructor ratio. Register now before spots fill up! Registration for this workshop closes on February 16th at 11:59pm. The price of this class is $40 with an Option $50 Materials Kit. This class will be recorded and the recording will be viewable for up to 30 days after the class. If you cannot comfortably pay tuition but are interested in taking this class, please consider filling out our financial assistance application here. We will notify you if you are selected to receive a scholarship before the start date of the class. To view more information about our current scholarship opportunities, please visit this link.