Learning new techniques for my Gelli Printing

As all good teachers, I need inspiration also. And for my Gelli Printing workshop in Canada, just a few weeks away, I looked to the very talented and very nice Artist Carla Sonheim. I bought an online course from her, watching her great techniques, and on I went. I like it at lot. It kind of combines my own way of painting, layers upon layers, and the "simple" shapes and forms that I love, with the always totally unpredictable life of your printing plate and colours.

 

 

 As all new beginning, practise take time. As Carla Sonheim herself says, out of eight prints, maybe 3 is perfect. The rest goes in the "for other use" pile. Printing plate, brayers, paper, water and paint...off we go!

 This one is a "to keep". If I were to work more on this, with say Ink, it might become balloons in the sky.

 Another one "to keep". I think it is a flower pot in a window...

 Maybe.......

 I like some bits of this, not all...

 Same with this one!

 Hmmm......

 No!

And the total disaster!
So this has been fun, and I shall practise more. I think I need to find my own colour scheme....But I am grateful to have learned something new, and a little struggle is healthy :)

More Gelli Prints

 

My lovely arty friend Lis and I- are currently having a joint Gelli Print exhibition in Jutland, Denmark.

These are just a few of the more than 50 prints that I have made for that event.

   

 

 

 What I love most about Gelli printing, is the unknown. Never to be able to know exactly how the outcome, the final print will turn out. So many lovely surprises. Like this one.
Printed on grey card stock with a thin layer of pink acrylic, using a piece of tulle fabric as a mask and a old doily. And wupty, an old flower pot appeared! Love it.

 This "Dress" came about using an onion net.

 A small collage on a printed music book page.

 I cut a bird stencil and used it with a piece of string.

This scarab I also cut my self, and it has been a good template.

July - Trekking and journaling

With July comes trekking in the Scottish Highland. This year I guided a group of Danes up north on  The West Highland Way. A really pleasant trip, where the weather was kind to us. 

 

 

                                          Loch Tulla Cairn.

 This trip was very special to my assistant and my self, as we lost a dear friend a fellow hiker just last month. To honour her memory and great love of the highland, we placed a small memento in a truly beautiful spot over looking Loch Leven.

 Not much time for making Art, but a harmonica - Ink and Watercolour - journal swap, with my fellow European circle friends, is made and ready to fly to Italy.

                                                   Sweet Peas from my daughters garden....

 To keep the journal safe travelling around Europa, I made a sleeve to put it in. Inspired by Lorraine Rigby. I would love to invite my group of friends for tea, but all the traveling makes it not possible, yet. So a collage, sewn on the front, will have to do :)

And a cup each on the back. I shall welcome my journal back home in 6 months time.

One more feather

Working on my new Gelli plate. The feather is still my favourite object.

 

 

 

Gelli prints Galore.

Still getting to know my new Gelli Printing mat, I have been playing around with colours and very simple shapes/images.

I find, that it is the colours, and the unknown results, that appeal to me most.

These are just a few of the many I have been working on.

I still want to incorporate some writing, and I wouldn't be at all surprised, if the old sewing machine gets to have a go also.....

 

 

Sommer Raven collage

Combining Gelli prints with paper and sewing.

 

Collage Girls. How to.

                                   A short tutorial, on how I made one of my Collage Girls.
                          This one was actually made in Italy, in my friend Letizia's garden!

 

A poster size lovely strong brown paper as base.

Gesso on parts, to let the brown show through.

Glued, Gel medium, pieces of newspaper on.

 

Pink, blue and lime green acrylic added.

 

A selection of nice papers matching the acrylics, napkins and a circle template was selected, all curtisy of Letizia.

 

One napkin had lovely writing on it. Right hand side. Glued on with Gel medium.

The two figures were sketched in. Faces painted with acrylics.

The dresses were made up from cut pieces of different papers, and glued on. Gesso then painted on top, to soften the colours.

Wings cut from newspaper and glued on.

Circels painted on, using a template, on the left hand side.

Feather napkin used for the chicken and in hair.

Hope stamped on with black ink.

 

"HOPE"