Gelli Printing

Mono printing is an interesting activity more commonly associated with working on paper.  The possibilities for working with clay are endless however.  Here are some tips when working with gelli plates. 

• Gelli plates are sensitive so do not use sharp instrument when designing on them.
•  You could use rubber tipped clay tools, cotton buds and any textures you choose including leaves from the garden or threads and/or string
• Store the gelli plate clean – it will clean up with water and soap and dabbed dry or it can be cleaned with baby wipes.
• Store the gelli plate flat, maybe in an envelope between the pespex sheets provided

Instructions for use

• Put your gelli plate onto a tile or a piece of glass.
• Have clay, to the size of your gelli plate, ready for use.   Shadow prints are effective so have at least two pieces of clay available (shadow prints are produced when you put a second piece of clay onto the existing design on your gelli plate).
•  Apply dots of paint, sparingly, onto the plate.   Roll the paint all over your plate with your roller.
• Place your sheet of clay on top of the plate, place a piece of paper on top of the  sheet of clay and rub firmly to impress the design onto the clay.
• (You can then choose to decorate this first piece of clay further once removed from the plate.)
• Put your second sheet of clay onto the remaining ink design on your gelli plate, impressing it again with a piece of paper over the top of the clay.
• OR you can now choose to decorate each piece further using masks, threads, leaves and tools on the gelli plate before impressing your second sheet of clay. 
• You can then decide which part of the resulting pattern is suitable to create and cure. 

Silk Screens 

Produce a base colour, or base  design using the gelli plate. 
Allow the paint to dry    
Place the silk screen on the clay
Apply more paint over the silk screen
Remember to wash the silk screen immediately after use

Alternatives

• A pale shadow print without adding more paint.
• A strong  textured print using new paints rolled onto the gelli plate
• Add masks  before adding more paint maybe
• Add textures/tool marks etc (imagination knows no bounds)

Remember to have more  sheeted clay ready to use when doing this  -try using black or other dark colours 

When completed clean your gelli plate with soap and water or a baby wipe.

Ideas

•  Produce lots of circles on your design with pencil end or other round tool
• Scrunch up some grease proof paper to dab onto the newly rolled  paint to produce an unusual texture

NB  Use soufflé clay and once you have completed the design on your piece of clay used the scrunched up grease proof paper to make your piece look like leather.

• Do something similar with the deli paper/ transparent paper for different effects

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​​​You can put Alcohol Inks onto your gelli plate
Add thinner (surgical spirit  or alcohol works well as a thinner) and watch a design appear. 
​The ‘shadow’ prints are particular effective using this technique as the colours are more subtle  
(I recommend rubber gloves when working with  alcohol inks!)

information and inspiration

Videos from the Manufacturers (using Paper)

A further video from the manufacture on a large gelli plate, using paper again

Think about layering - here are some ideas

Design ideas here:   or loads more here:

See Some Examples

Experimental Gelli print with 'nail art' transfer imposed on it

Syndee Holt Pieces for a pendant commissioned by Sculpey

Carefully designed pendant using Gelli printing by Jody Abramson