Three Ways to Gel Print on Canvas with Gelli Arts® by Tania Ahmed

Hey Everyone,

Today I am making a longer video for you showing you three ways on how to get your gel prints on a canvas.

Well, four ways to be honest! The problem with printing on a normal canvas is that the frame tends to get int the way. This can work if you can reach under the frame behind the canvas to make sure you get good contact with your gel plate to transfer the paint.

Here are four ways to get your gel prints on a canvas!

Print on demand services:

If I have a print that I really like and I want to use it more than once, I scan them so that I have a copy to re-use. This also allows you to use print on demand services where you can upload your gel prints so that you can get canvases made! I do this now for canvases, postcards and gifts to give 🙂

Gel Printing on Tissue:

Gel printing on tissue is a fantastic way to transfer your prints on to a surface that you cant easily print on. Gel print as normal, and once the paint is dry, apply your gel print with matt medium and this lets the print almost disappear against a white background. I have shared a short clip of my way of printing on tissue in my video and then applying it to canvas with matt gel medium.

For a more detailed tutorial, please check out Birgit Koopsen’s video on gel printing on tissue paper!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fq0fnAOXGw

Gel Printing on Canvas Board:

Canvas board doesn’thave a frame in the back and are solid so they are perfect for gel printing on. The texture that you get with left over paint on your gel plate makes fabulous ghost prints too!

Gel Print Transfer with Gel Medium

I tried doing a gel print transfer with matt gel medium and it worked like a dream! This is not a new technique, but I have no seen anyone try it with gel printing and I am pleased to report that it works really well!

Gel print as normal on either heavy copy paper or thin cardstock and make sure that it is completely dry. Apply a layer of gel medium to your canvas and firmly apply the gel print face down on to your canvas. Turn canvas over and run the back of the canvas making sure that the print makes complete contact with the canvas. You can use a palette knife to get under the frame and use the Mini Tools to smooth out the canvas. Make sure that there are no bubbles or pockets of too much gel medium!

Now the most important part: let it dry overnight completely. If you are impatient like me, I know this will be the hardest part, but it will be worth it!

Once it is dry, mist paper with water and start peeling the majority of it away and then the rest you can rub away with your fingers. I find this a very relaxing process which is almost meditative. Be really careful about rubbing too hard as this can cause the transfer to shift.

Also remember that your transfer will be back to front – so your first layer will appear on top! I have been testing this technique on different surfaces, so I will share more of what I have learnt soon!

Thank you so much for watching and I hope that you enjoy my video tutorial.

Have a great day, 

Tania

MATERIALS:

Gelli Arts® 8×10 plate
Gelli Arts® Mini Printing Tools
Gelli Arts® Brayer
Gelli Arts® Ladder Stencil
Gelli Arts® Perfect Placement Tool

Alphabet and Number Stencils
Bubble Wrap
DecoArt Paints
Liquitex Gel Medium
Canvas
Canvas Board
Tissue Paper
DIY Alphabet Texture Plate

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