Gelli Plate Printing with Eucalyptus Leaves

[@barbaracabrera207]

WOW!!! I love your technique of double printing leaves to get the veining of the leaves!!! So brilliant!!! Definitely gonna do THAT!!! Great gel printing ideas. Especially love the crystal glass stem print!!! Fantastic! TFS Austin,TX USA

[@VikkiReed]

Barbara, thank you! Yes, so much fun to have on the gelli plate, enjoy!

[@jocelynelarose3715]

Hi Vikki very gorgeous and good idea all mix colors.I love your work very well Thank-you

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks very much Jocelyn!

[@SlowlyYouRot]

I don't know how I overlooked this technique for so long! This looks really fun and the results are gorgeous. I've been doing dendritic painting for a while and recently started getting into laser cutting stamps and combining that with the dendritic methods and now this is definitely going into the mix!

[@VikkiReed]

It IS really fun and a perfect fit with how you are already creating, I know you will enjoy it!

[@janbyington7607]

I just tried gelli printing today with some success. Your video is the best, especially how you lift leaves and repress for veining.

[@VikkiReed]

Ah, thank you! I’m delighted to hear you were successful! Keep going!

[@betsykins7]

Lovely! You are my favorite gel printer artist. 💗

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks you so much for the beautiful compliment!

[@eva_unrast]

Oh, that's beautiful! Here in Germany no eucalyptus grows at all, so, at the moment, except for my winter lettuce in the raised bed actually nothing grows. Uncomfortable muddy weather and cold. But I think I'll stop by my favorite florist tomorrow and ask about the greenery for bouquet making. I'm sure I saw eucalyptus branches with those round decorative leaves there the other day. Monoprinting with the gel plate is so much fun!

[@VikkiReed]

Eva, my Mom was from Germany and Eva was her middle name! Yes, ask the florist and see what they suggest, there are other options that are fun of course, and I agree, the gelli plate is SO much fun!

[@safran4847]

Your third place is my first! Thank you, that was really inspiring.

[@VikkiReed]

Safran, I love it, thank you, I'm delighted you are feeling inspired!

[@sabrinenejjar2046]

Wonderful, you are the Queen of gelly plate 😊 ❤️

[@VikkiReed]

Bless you Sabrine, your comment made me laugh out loud! I will say, "it is good to be Queen"!

[@joeltham1979]

I am really impressed with your artistry, well done.

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks so much Jo, I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@intuitiveinspiredart4366]

That lipstick holder is the bomb!

[@VikkiReed]

Thank you, yes, a tool that I go back to again and again along with a few cherished glass pieces, my Duplo and the honeycomb trivet.

[@timeenuf4200]

Wonderful ideas. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@VikkiReed]

My pleasure, thank you for viewing and commenting!

[@pasqualebazin7964]

C’est vraiment magnifique, Vicky, comme d’habitude. Je suis à l’arrêt, mais vous me donnez envie de m’y remettre….. Bonne continuation !🎉🎉🎉

[@VikkiReed]

Thank you so much, Pasquale!

[@karendigiallonardoballard4851]

Love these prints! Can't wait to try it out.

[@VikkiReed]

Karen, YES! The eucalyptus leaves provide so many wonderful opportunities!

[@Dita66]

Love the results you showing. Thank you so much🎉

[@VikkiReed]

Dita, thank you so much for watching and commenting!

[@wendyborn9487]

I love your videos! Very inspiring. I’m also showing the to my 6th grade students. Thank you!

[@VikkiReed]

I love that, Wendy, thank you! Thank you for inspiring the young ones, it is a wonderful investment!

[@debbieekes5718]

Beautiful! Love the technique.

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks so much, Debbie!

[@headlessviolin]

Fabulous as ever hoping to see you again soon xxx

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks so much!

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much Vikki, I really really enjoyed watching you creating these gorgeous and stunning print’s. Absolutely amazing and beautiful too. Please stay safe and well too xxx Mags

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks so much, Mags, you too!

[@KathyBrooksArt]

I love doing botanical gel prints too! I have never put the paper back down to get the leaf insides yet, will give that a try. I love using Ginkgo leaves, and find once they have paint on both sides, I put them in a book between waxed paper and can use them over and over. This was so much fun to watch, your prints are beautiful!

[@VikkiReed]

Thank you! I had to Google ginkgo leaves...they look like fun! I don't believe I could find them here in the Desert Southwest. Great tip about preserving the leaves! Once they are crunchy though, they won't work on the gelli plate anymore

[@KathyBrooksArt]

@@VikkiReed Odd thing is that the Ginkgo leaves tend to stay pliable once they get paint on them and are pressed. Happy to send you some if you have a PO Box. Anyway, will share my fav darks for botanicals, are Amsterdam Graphite, and Amsterdam Paynes Grey (regular not the Expert Series) something about the Amsterdam Paynes Grey is unlike any other I have tried, it's beautiful. I usually let the first layer dry and then pull, these two darks are stunning. Happy Printing!

[@VikkiReed]

@@KathyBrooksArt Kathy, thank you! I will try the Amsterdam Graphite and Amsterdam Payne's Grey, I'm excited!

[@barbaracabrera207]

I saw your channel on P&M Artist Studio LIVE today. So came over to look and subscribe. I shared your idea and channel link in their LIVE today.

[@jas8815]

I always look forward to your videos. I've learned so much from watching you. Thank you!

[@VikkiReed]

JA S, I'm so glad, thank you for watching and commenting!

[@donnaterrell938]

Happy New Year! Haven't seen one of your videos for awhile and was pleased when this popped up. I like working with Eucalyptus leaves as well. I appreciate your process and artistry. Always happy to see you and the gel plate creating . Thank you!

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks so much Donna! Yes, we're a little behind in getting the videos out, but this was a fun one! Thanks for watching and commenting, Happy New Year!

[@cathydale104]

Thanks for another great video. I could have carried on watching for hours. 🙂

[@VikkiReed]

I love hearing that, Cathy! I hope it's as fun to watch as it is to play on the plate, I sure do love it myself...

[@karenharnish8090]

Great prints. I need to dig out some boxes in storage for my vintage wine gasses because I just loved your results. Thanks for continuing to provide inspiration.

[@VikkiReed]

Karen, wow, vintage wine glasses, lots of potential there! Just press cautiously, not too much pressure on the glass, for obvious reasons!

[@ritajanousek18]

Brilliant idea! You make it so easy to understand & your prints are gorgeous! Thanks for the knowledge & inspiration ❤

[@VikkiReed]

Rita, thank you! It is my pleasure, thank you for watching and your wonderful compliments!

[@amherst88]

Always love watching you gel print Vikki ❤

[@VikkiReed]

Amherst88, thank you so much!

[@tscassell]

Gorgeous! Love the double printing of the leaves. I wonder if it would work with high-quality fake leaves? I guess the trick is to see if they actually had the veining. I always enjoy your backgrounds with the “mottled” look - not sure if that’s the right word for it - love seeing the original colors swirled along with the blended color, if that makes sense 😅 Thanks for sharing your beautiful work!

[@VikkiReed]

Tracy, yes, I think mottled is right, varying the layers adds interest, for me as well! I'm sure it would work with high quality artificial leaves, and yes, you would want to check them out to see if they have veining and also that they aren't too thick, and of course, not mind if they received layers of color! Thanks for your compliment and question!

[@mjmjacqueline8397]

13:37 stunningVicki, my results are a bit ordinary, though I’m copying your technique, could my paints be too fluid? Are you using heavy bodied paint?

[@VikkiReed]

MJM Jaqueline, thank you for your question, I am not using heavy body paint, I use Golden Fluid Acrylics, and there is a full supply list in the information section below the video. It is hard for me to know what you consider ordinary, or exactly what is happening that is not as you wish...I know I need to get to doing KZbin Live, and have someone with me to read and respond to the chat!

[@juliecremer3545]

Hi Vikki - loved watching you create some awesome images! It's inspired me to get the gelli plate out again. A question, how do you frame your prints? I have been gluing my watercolours to board, then sealing with a couple of layers of cold wax - would this work with gelli plate prints? thanks again.

[@VikkiReed]

Hi Julie, thanks so much for your question! I use matte medium to adhere the prints to birch wood panels (prime them with GAC100 first) then spray varnish. Because I prefer matte finish, I don't use gloss medium or gloss spray varnish, but you certainly could. I don't know about cold wax on the prints, particularly rice paper, because of any buffing (which I remember doing with cold wax on my watercolors!) I hope that helps!

[@donnacarraway9182]

For those of you watching this in the middle of winter like me, if you have dried leaves, you might check them to see if they are pliable! I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of mine were usable. Also, for some of the crunchier ones, I soaked them in a water and glycerin solution and they became soft for a day! Still usable!

[@VikkiReed]

Donna, those are excellent tips! I am spoiled by living in an environment where leaves are plentiful all year. Thank you for sharing!

[@karenmcandrew9383]

Brand new at gel printing and I love your videos! I am struggling with muddy looking paint and I’m not sure how to mix colors to avoid that.

[@VikkiReed]

Karen, welcome! Muddy paint can result when you mix complimentary colors together; red/green, violet/yellow, blue/orange...also, I find cadmiums produce mud quite quickly...so I avoid them. I hope that helps!

[@donnacarraway9182]

Thank you Vikki! I am learning the gel plate, in part thanks to you!! I made two very successful prints using fern leaves, putting down gold, then the leaves and pulling off the excess gold. Leaving the leaves on I the put on magenta, pulled off the excess, removed the leaves, and put on another color and pulled the print. Fantastic! But after two great prints, I can’t repeat it. Have you worked with two colors (plus the base color), before pulling the print and if yes any hints? I can’t remember (getting old) if I dried it after pulling off the leaves, this might be the key! Thanks for listening! Question 2: Are the Golden brand paints better than the Liquitex or other cheap paints? Thank you! You’re great!

[@VikkiReed]

Donna, yay, it's so exciting you're getting prints you love! You might need to make notes for yourself on your process...it does happen to me sometimes that I can't remember how I got an effect and cannot duplicate it, but then it's off to the next adventure! You may need to let it sit longer on the plate before you pull it, I trust you to find the way! Question 2, yes, I prefer Golden Fluid Acrylics and Liquitex soft body for this kind of printing. If you are doing magazine transfers you will want Heavy Body Amsterdam pigments. For me, the cheaper paints don't work as well, they have more binder and less pigment. I do use the occasional Dylusions color, but Golden is my preferred brand by far (and I'm not sponsored or paid). Thank you for your questions!

[@josemiguelturrocrespo7033]

Interesante trabajo

[@VikkiReed]

Muchas gracias, Jose!

[@josemiguelturrocrespo7033]

@@VikkiReed soy artista plástico también soy cubano pero estoy viviendo en Houston Texas

[@VikkiReed]

@@josemiguelturrocrespo7033 wonderful! I don't know what a plastic artist is (I used Google to translate), but I wish you every success!

[@donnacarraway9182]

P.S. love this video!!💕💕

[@VikkiReed]

Thank you Donna!

[@judybelsky6246]

Love this video. Judging by the crinkly sound of the paper is it rice paper of something else? thanks

[@VikkiReed]

Judy, yes, it is rice paper, all the supplies I used are listed in the information below the video, it is my FAVORITE rice paper, JapanBargain Calligraphy Rice Paper from Amazon

[@dragonfly5220]

Beautiful all of them! Question you said not to use dry leaves? I have not tried fresh or dry but wanting to know why not the dry leaves? Thanks so much~

[@VikkiReed]

dargon fly, thank you for your question, the dry leaves will crush and break when you press them and there will be a mess on your plate! Of course, plastic (or artificial) leaves will work, but then they will have paint on them. I hope that helps answer your question!

[@dragonfly5220]

@@VikkiReed Thank you so much! It makes perfect sense. I will try this soon. Your results were stunning!

[@jonisorsen]

Lovely! What kind of tissue to you use?

[@VikkiReed]

Joni, I use Japan Bargain Calligraphy Rice Paper from Amazon, and thank you!

[@sharongreenaway6942]

Will this work on more textured thicker paper

[@VikkiReed]

Thanks for your question, I struggle with any heavy paper with any texture. A very smooth paper works best. I have seen other artists print on 90 lb stock, I just can’t seem to get results with it!

[@sharongreenaway6942]

@@VikkiReed thank you for your quick reply

[@barbaracabrera207]

Someone on LIVE mentioned your salad spinner technique.

[@VikkiReed]

Well, I will have to google "salad spinner technique" Barbara, it is not mine but I will check it out, thank you!

[@barbaracabrera207]

@@VikkiReed Wait,...WHAT! Not yours!!! I need to go check that.

[@barbaracabrera207]

@@VikkiReed Oh, Kari's Mixed Media Art. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZfZgJ6wl9Rpi6c

[@barbaracabrera207]

@@VikkiReed My brain is turned off today!!!

[@VikkiReed]

@@barbaracabrera207 lol, you're fine!

[@123gp1833]

Can you use regular acrylic paint thinly applied.

[@VikkiReed]

Georgia, thank you for your question, yes, you can, there are many videos out there on using fuller body acrylics and many that use the full body (acrylics) for photo transfers which is something I have not mastered yet. My suggestion is to play with it and let yourself experiment without the pressure of having to pull a fabulous print...there is so much fun to be had!

[@123gp1833]

@@VikkiReed Thanks.

[@pasqualebazin7964]

Sorty… I meant Vikky

[@VikkiReed]

Not to worry, Pasquale!