Gel Plate Printing Workshop
Gel plate printing is a versatile and hands-on monoprinting technique that uses a soft, flexible surface—known as a gel plate—to create richly layered and textured prints. Unlike traditional printmaking, it doesn’t require a press or specialist tools; with just a brayer, acrylic paint, and paper, you can start creating straight away.
The process is playful and intuitive. Paint is applied to the plate, then manipulated using tools, stencils, natural objects like leaves, or textured materials. When paper is pressed onto the plate, it lifts a unique image—no two prints are the same. You can build up layers, experiment with colour, and explore pattern and composition in an immediate, satisfying way.
Gel plate printing is suitable for beginners and experienced artists alike. It’s ideal for producing artwork in its own right or for use in collage, journaling, textile work, or mixed media projects. The spontaneity of the technique makes it especially appealing to those who enjoy creative discovery.
A brief history of gel plate printing
Gel plate printing is a relatively modern development within the broader tradition of monoprinting. While monoprinting itself dates back to the 17th century—used by artists like Rembrandt and Degas to create one-of-a-kind prints—the use of gel plates is a much more recent innovation.
Originally, artists used homemade gelatin plates made by boiling gelatin and water to form a flexible printing surface. These plates allowed for painterly, layered effects without the need for a press. However, traditional gelatin plates were fragile, perishable, and had to be stored in the fridge.
In the early 2000s, commercially produced synthetic gel plates were developed, offering the same soft, responsive surface with far greater durability and ease of use. These plates could be reused indefinitely, cleaned with simple soap and water, and stored at room temperature—making the process more accessible to artists, educators, and hobbyists.
Since then, gel plate printing has become a popular creative technique around the world, valued for its immediacy, versatility, and the way it encourages playful, spontaneous image-making. Today, it’s widely used in mixed media art, creative journaling, textile work, and education—bringing the joy of printmaking to a broad and diverse audience.
✨ A Gel Plate Printing Workshop
A gel plate printing workshop offers much more than just a playful, hands-on experience. It’s an opportunity to unlock your creative potential by exploring a versatile medium that blends painting, printmaking, and collage. The process encourages experimentation with colour, texture, and layering in ways that are both intuitive and surprising, helping you to develop your artistic confidence.
Workshops provide expert guidance to help you understand techniques like layering, masking, and creating stencils, so you can produce prints with depth and complexity. They also offer a supportive environment where you can learn from others, share ideas, and gain inspiration.
Beyond the technical skills, gel plate printing nurtures mindfulness and relaxation, offering a refreshing break from daily routines. The prints you create can be finished artworks or serve as unique elements for further creative projects—whether in journaling, textiles, or mixed media.
Ultimately, a gel plate printing workshop is a chance to connect with your creativity in a fresh, rewarding way and leave with new skills and original artwork you’ll be proud of.
🌼 At Blooming Designs
Choosing Blooming Designs for your gel plate printing workshop means learning this exciting technique from Alison Butler, who brings over 25 years of experience as a textile designer and illustrator. Alison’s deep understanding of colour, pattern, and texture ensures you’ll explore gel plate printing in a way that’s both inspiring and practical.
Our workshops are held in the peaceful, creative setting of the Meon Valley, providing the perfect environment to experiment freely with layering, masking, stenciling, and texture-building techniques unique to gel plate printing. With small groups, you’ll receive personal guidance tailored to your skill level, helping you master the use of the gel plate, acrylic paints, and mixed media elements to create vibrant, original monoprints.
We provide all the high-quality materials and equipment you need, plus expert tips on cleaning, care, and how to continue your gel plate practice at home. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to deepen your skills, Blooming Designs offers a hands-on, immersive experience that will leave you confident, inspired, and excited to keep creating.
🌿 A Word From the Artist
“
Gel plate printing is a wonderfully playful and rewarding process that I’ve loved exploring over the years. What I find most exciting is how it combines spontaneity with control—you can experiment freely with colour, texture, and layering, yet still create beautifully composed prints. There’s always an element of surprise in how each print reveals itself, which keeps the process fresh and inspiring.
For me, gel printing is not just about making images; it’s about engaging with materials in a tactile, joyful way that sparks creativity and calms the mind. Sharing this experience with others and watching them discover their own unique voices through printmaking is incredibly fulfilling.
Whether you’re new to print or looking to expand your creative practice, I hope this workshop offers you both confidence and delight in the process..”
– [Alison Butler], Founder of Blooming Designs
