Gel Plate Printing for Beginners - Carlton Fire Station - Adult Learning

Would you like to learn a fun, colourful and textural printing technique that you can use in journalling, card-making, or collage?

This friendly four-week course will introduce you to the vibrant world of gel plate printing, an accessible and expressive way to make stunning one-off prints using just a gel plate, some paint, and your imagination.

You’ll explore how to use stencils, natural objects like leaves, and everyday recycled items to build up beautiful layers of pattern, texture, and colour. Whether you’re an experienced maker or just getting started, you’ll have the chance to experiment with a wide variety of tools and materials. Your finished prints can be used in all sorts of creative ways: as artworks in their own right, or transformed into greeting cards, tags, journal pages, and collaged pieces. Come along to learn a new technique, relax in good company, and go home with a stack of your own handmade prints.

Course Summary?

Across four fun and supportive sessions, you will:

• Learn the basic techniques of gel plate monoprinting

• Apply and layer paints, stencils and textures to create interesting effects

• Explore colour theory to create visually pleasing designs

• Experiment with a range of tools and found objects to make unique marks

• Build a personal collection of prints to use in future craft or art projects

• Use your prints to create other items

What will learners achieve by the end of the course?

• Identify and apply at least five key terms (e.g. brayer, ghost print) in written or spoken reflections by the final session.

• Produce at least three prints using different tools and layering methods.

• Mix and apply colours purposefully in at least two prints using basic colour theory.

• Complete a set of printed items ready for display or gifting.

• Consider how to display prints in a professional or imaginative format, such as a framed piece or journal.

• Plan your next creative steps: Record personal goals or next steps for developing your printmaking skills.

What you will need to bring to the course:

• An apron, big shirt, or old clothes (you will be using paint!)

• A basic set of acrylic paints: yellow, red, blue, black, and white

• A pack of baby wipes

• We will provide a gel plate and brayer (roller) but, if you have your own, bring it along

• A notebook or sketchbook and pen/pencil for notes and reflections

• A selection of interesting papers to print on, such as:

• Copy paper

• Tissue paper (white or coloured)

• Newspaper, book pages, envelopes, brown packing paper

• Maps, paper bags, old music sheets, or recycled wrapping paper

Items that might create interesting marks, such as:

• Lace, string, mesh, textured wallpaper, bubble wrap

• Clean food packaging (e.g. fruit netting, bottle caps)

• Natural materials like leaves or feathers