Leaf Prints With a Gel Plate
by Lydia Fiedler
Preserve nature's beauty with beautiful leaf monoprints.
Supplies
- Gel monoprinting plate (Gel Press used here)
- Acrylic paint (Golden Open used here)
- Soft rubber brayer (Speedball brayer used here)
- Leaves (Ivy and pecan leaves used here)
Step-by-Step
-
Step 1
Apply paint to your gel printing plate.
-
Step 2
Use a brayer to evenly distribute the paint in a thin layer across the plate.
-
Step 3
Place a leaf directly into the paint on the gel plate.
-
Step 4
Cover the plate with your paper and rub and press to get good contact with the paper around the leaf, and between the leaf and the plate. Do not lift paper yet.
-
Step 5
Securing the paper in place with one hand on one edge or corner of the gel plate, lift a corner of your paper just enough to remove the leaf without shifting the paper. Lift the leaf off, don't drag it, to preserve the detail of the veins which are left on the plate.
-
Step 6
Carefully place the paper back down on the plate and rub and press to transfer all the detail to your paper.
-
Step 7
Remove the paper from the plate and enjoy the nature print. Experiment with different color combinations and single colors for monochrome prints.
-
Step 8
Use the leaf print in a project.
Video!
Your Turn
You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Leaf Prints With a Gel Plate. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!
***Please note - Internet Explorer/Edge is not a supported browser, and will not allow you to see the videos. Please use Chrome, Firefox or Safari to view our tutorial videos.
Questions and Comments
We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.
thanks !
Barney yes I frequently use a template to get that effect - even just die cut a piece of paper.
Page 1 of 1 pages