Apply layers of light paint with a DIY sponge dauber, let it dry—then brayer dark paint over it and pull your print. Watch this Gelli® video to see it demonstrated step-by-step!
There are many possible variations using this technique. This time, we’ll apply the paint from light to dark to produce interesting print effects.
To start, let’s make a sponge dauber using a round cosmetic sponge and masking tape. To do this, simply gather the edges of the sponge together, forming a ball of sorts. Wrap the gathered edges in masking tape, which forms the dauber and serves as a convenient handle.
The paints used in this video are DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic paints, and DecoArt Dazzling Metallics. They’re wonderful for this technique!
The key is to allow the painted image to dry on the plate. This technique is perfect for using thin applications of fast-drying acrylics! If you like to take time to develop an image on your plate and have been frustrated with fast drying paint… give this technique a try!
Here’s how:
- Apply light colors to your Gelli® plate with a sponge dauber.
- Leave areas of the gel plate unpainted.
- Add focal points and patterns by dabbing paint through stencils
- Allow paint to dry thoroughly.
- Load your brayer with a dark color and roll it over the dry paint on your Gelli® plate.
- Quickly cover with your printing paper, rub to transfer the paint — and slowly pull your print. This should pull up just about all of the paint on the plate.
This is a simple technique, but here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Use fast-drying acrylic paints.
- Avoid any blobs or thick applications of paint since they take a while to dry.
- Allow the painted image to dry completely. (Do NOT use heat to hurry the drying!)
- Roll a thin layer of paint over the dry paint — then quickly cover with paper.
- Give a little extra time when rubbing to transfer the paint to the paper.
- Pull the print slowly. The paper can tend to stick to the plate a bit as you pull the print.
Here are a few variations to try:
- Use metallic and/or interference paints. They’ll pop against the final dark layer.
- For a painterly print, apply the paint with a soft brush instead of a sponge dauber.
- Press texture tools into the paint while it’s wet.
- Experiment with different color combinations for very different results. Be sure to create enough contrast.
The dry layers of sponged paint created some unexpected interesting paint textures!
These prints can be great beginnings, too! Add doodling on them with paint pens, colored pencils and your favorite drawing media.
As you can see, there’s great potential for creative explorations in printing with dark over
light colors. Have fun!
This Contest is officially CLOSED
Judi W. is our Winner!!
And we have a SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY!!! Including a signed copy of my new book, Gelli Plate Printing!
Our incredible Prize Package includes:
- 1 – 8″x10″ Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate
- 1 – Speedball 4″ Soft Rubber Pop-In Brayer
- 12 – 1 oz. jars of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
- 6 – 2 oz. jars of DecoArt Dazzling Metallics
- 1 – package of round cosmetic sponge (latex-free)
- 1 – set of 5 Sharpie Water-based Paint Pens
- 1 – Signed copy of my book, ‘Gelli Plate Printing‘
Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts on the blog – we love hearing your feedback.
To enter the giveaway, click on the red “ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE” button below! (This will
ensure that we can contact the winner and that entries are limited to one per person. One
winner will be selected from all the entries via a random number generator to receive this
fabulous giveaway!)
Entries will be accepted until (Monday, Oct. 20th, 2014 at 12 Noon EST). Our lucky winner will be contacted by email and announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page no later than (Oct. 20th at 5 p.m. EST)!
Enter Giveaway Here
This Contest is officially CLOSED
Special thanks to our friends at DecoArt for generously providing the paints in this giveaway!
Good Luck and Happy Printing!
So creative and the possibilities are endless. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love synchronicity as I was about to try the «apply a layer, let it completely dry, another layer, print» technique. I love the blobs effect.
thanks a lot for all the inspiration and for that amazing giveaway !
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! I really like the looks of the DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic paints, and DecoArt Dazzling Metallics. They're wonderful for outstanding color contrasts! One can create a masterpiece in no time..and with little effort! I really need to get my hands on some of these products. The blotched bright colors on the blotched metallic with dark backgrounds on the Gelli printing plate? Yah…I am totally excited about that! Thank you for all of the demos, techniques and ideas on your website. I love getting inspiring emails in my virtual mailbox.
Awesome! Fascinating !
i just love. But i love the blog. There is always something that inspires. what a big giveaway.
Would love to try the new decoarts fluid acrylics. Found out about them on this blog. Thanks!
This is such a stunning technique! I will definitely give it a try.
Love this! Thanks for the chance to win!
These look wonderful 🙂 Carol x
Wow, wow, wow. Your creativity always amazes me! Love this blog and have learnt so much.
Great tutorial. Would love to be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize!
Love, love, love!!!!!
Loved this video, and LOVE all the ideas!
Can't wait to try this! THanks for the inspiration
I would love to try this. Being a newbie I want to try everything. Awesome tutorial. I'm so excited. I hope I win.
great tutorial… great inspiration…
Wow! Sooo cool! Must try this! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Great tutorial. I cannot WAIT to try this technique!!! I hope I win. 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity.
looks great! Can't wait to try. thanks for the opportunity
This looks like too much fun!
I cannot wait to try this!
love the blog great pictures and video tutorial thanks for the giveaway
I love the blog as it's filled with inspiration for using your products and the videos are great for someone like me who is new to this sort of crafting. The give away is amazingly generous and I would so love these products to land in my craftroom!
How awesome..Amazing giveaway!!! Would love love to win, been watching all the amazing art pages that come from this style of Art. Truly awesome on what can be made.
I love learning new techniques with the gelli plate – I'm always amazed by the versatility of the plate!
You never disappoint! Thanks for another great tutorial and a chance to win the giveaway!! 🙂
thanks so much for a chance to win the video was amazing cant wait to try it Good Luck to everyone Hugs
amazing work…gotta go now and play too… =)
TOTALLY loving the tutorial and excited to enter for a chance at the give-a-way! What a cool thing for prints!!
I love this technique of dark over light, and, also, the idea of making your own paint daubers. Thanks for sharing both. I'm really enjoying your blog and the video posts. It gives me alot of inspiration for using the Gelli plate for printing in many different projects, and , wow, what a great giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity to be part of it. I'm looking forward to more posts…..Linda E.
A great video and an ingenious way to make a dauber too. I think this effect is superb, I would never have thought to put dark over light and it looks superb. I would love to know who's music is playing as the soundtrack, I really liked it. 🙂
Love this. Can't wait to try it out.
This is my first visit to your blog and I am in love. I used to do lino block printing so I could totally get into this! Can't wait to nose around your blog even more!
Whoa. What a great technique. Please keep these videos coming. My imagination is already running wild.
You keep coming up with new ideas. I always amazed at receiving yet another colorful and fun u-tube! Thanks
wonderful learning for both beginner and seasoned artists. thank you
Awesome! Can't wait to try this tomorrow (if I start now, I'll be up all night). thanks for continuing to inspire!
I love to win this! I never tried gelli printing but want to try it so bad !
Love the inspiration and the techniques… It's best to create simply yet beautifully looks so doable want to try it .
would love to try the gelli printing and all the new techniques, thank you for a chance to win these fab products !!
Hi I always look forward to the tutorials, so inspiring! What a wonderful giveaway pack from DecoArt 😉
Awesome! This looks so fun!
I like this idea a lot because I like to use the cheap paints that do dry quickly. lol
Beautiful technique! Loved the video! Thanks for an opportunity to win such a generous prize!
Love watching your video of how to use your products. I would love to try it.
Awesome tutorial….. great giveaway!
Love your videos, and love my GelliPlates! This is another 'have-to-try' techique.. 😀
Awesome giveaway!!
most fun of my week is printing paper. great inspiration from your blog and videos. thanks as always for sharing.
Thanks for the detailed tutorial. I look forward to trying this out.
made the mistake of buying the other monoprinting plate …love love love gelli prints