How to Gel Plate Print: Feather and Leaf Monoprints

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Gel plate printing is one of the easiest kinds of printmaking to start. You roll paint onto a soft, squishy plate, press things into it, lay paper on top and pull a one-of-a-kind print. No press, no carving and no special skills. In this lesson Josie Lewis shows two of her favorite projects: a feather print on a rainbow gradient, and a two-layer leaf print that uses a ghost image to pick up every vein.

How to gel plate print: the basic cycle

Roll a thin, even layer of acrylic paint onto the plate with a brayer.
Press a leaf, feather, stencil or texture into the wet paint.
Lay paper on top and rub firmly all over.
Peel the paper away. That is your print.

Each print is a monoprint, which means you only get one like it. That is half the fun.

What you need

A gel plate (8 x 10 inches is a good first size), a soft rubber brayer, ordinary acrylic paint and some paper. Heavy body or craft acrylics both work. Josie uses 140 lb watercolor paper because it is sturdy enough to rub hard and takes several layers, but copy paper, cardstock and book pages all print well too. Gel plates are reusable and last for years. Homemade gelatin plates work, but they need the fridge and go moldy within weeks.

Things to print with

Look around your house and garden. Flat leaves with strong veins (hosta, fern, sage, maple), feathers, embroidery floss, string, bubble wrap, mesh produce bags, lace, stencils and cut paper shapes all leave great marks. Thick, lumpy objects do not. The flatter the item, the crisper the print.

First print vs ghost print

The first pull lifts the paint around your leaves, so you get a pale silhouette on color. Remove the leaves and the plate still holds a detailed impression of every vein. Let that dry, roll a fresh contrasting layer over it and pull again. The wet layer grabs the dry one and you get the ghost print, often the best print of the session.

Cleaning and storing the plate

Between prints you can keep going over old paint, which adds lovely layers. When you finish, pull a few prints on scrap paper to lift leftover paint, then wipe the plate with baby wipes or soapy water. Store it flat on its plastic sheet, away from heat and sun.

Common mistakes

Too much paint. Thick paint fills in the detail. Roll it thin enough to hear a light sticky hiss.
Working too slowly. Acrylic dries fast on the plate. Have your leaves and paper ready before you roll.
Light pressure. Rub every inch with your palms and fingers so the paper meets the paint everywhere.
Pulling the second layer too soon. For a ghost print the first layer must be fully dry. Wait 5 to 10 minutes.

What to do with your prints

Use them as backgrounds for handmade cards, cut them up for collage, or glue them into a junk journal. Leaf prints from the garden pair well with pressed flowers. If you enjoy printing, try block printing on fabric next. Gel printing is also a lovely, low-mess activity to share with grandchildren.

Quick answer

How to gel plate print step by step: roll a gradient, press in leaves or a feather, pull a monoprint, then a detailed ghost print. An easy project: about 45 minutes, plus 30 minutes to dry or set. You need 8 things, including acrylic paint, watercolor paper or cardstock and fresh leaves. The 10 steps start with squeeze Acrylic Paint Onto the Gel Plate and roll a Gradient Across the Gel Plate With a Brayer.

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