Gel Printing With Inktense Pencils by Marsha Valk

In this video, Gelli® Artist Marsha Valk shares a fun way to stretch your mixed-media drawing supplies using Derwent Inktense on the Gelli® plate!
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[@ssquilts]

Wow - I never would have thought of this - I love ideas for using my favorite supplies in new ways

[@lucybanta7311]

So many fun options! Thanks!

[@esmesjitters1849]

I am so excited to try this. Thanks

[@AmyStamper]

I HAVE wondered about these! Thanks for showing us how!

[@debrag.3722]

They all have such different print characteristics. I will definitely try printing with my Inktense.

[@marshavalk]

Have fun experimenting!

[@BarbS548]

So interesting and fun! Love the chicken prints!

[@cristinarodizza4832]

Thank you

[@vulcanknitter1830]

Oh this method and work is inspiring! BTW I found you, Marsha, through Emma Carlisle patreon video.

[@marshavalk]

Hi! Thank you! That video was so incredibly fun to do!

[@SueD.]

Thanks for these great ideas--love the chickens too.

[@ellief3177]

Thanks, Marsha. I love my inktense pencils so need to give this a try! Your images would make wonderful ceramic tile patterns.

[@marshavalk]

Thank you!!

[@nottaholiday]

So very inspiring...Thank you Marsha...Can't wait to try it out

[@juliecurtis9517]

I LOVE this! I find so much pleasure in using my plate. Most of what is done on a plate looks stunning after it's framed.

[@JustMe-nj6dp]

Don't do it will destroy your plate using any pencils directly onto the plate.

[@marshavalk]

@@JustMe-nj6dp@JustMe-nj6dp If you had watched the video and you have worked with Inktense pencils before, you'd know that what you claim here is false.

[@marshavalk]

Hi Julie, I'm happy you enjoy gel printing so much! Thank you for your kind comment!

[@juliecurtis9517]

@JustMe-nj6dp if you use a light hand and keep the pencil damp and soft it won't ruin the plate. As the video pointed out, you should hold the pencil at an angle.

[@Michellemixedmedia]

These are brilliant Marsha! ❤ Definitely going to give it a try with my pencils.

[@marshavalk]

Have fun, Michelle! 😘

[@timeenuf4200]

Hadn't thought of using any pencil let alone Inktense but I think it's time to break out my little tin of 8 Intense and make something. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@marshavalk]

Have fun!!

[@joblowers211202]

Fantastic! Thanks for these techniques and the clarity with which you presented them. Love your use of music too.

[@katyratyra]

Like as been said, I would never thought to try my Inktense pencils!

[@marshavalk]

Have fun giving it a go!

[@anneyoung6398]

Great demo!!!!!!

[@junimondin]

Great idea ❤

[@CarrieArtist]

Fabulous ideas, thank you! I love drawing with Inktense, what a wonderful new way to use these tools. I love the effects the different prints give.

[@madelineruehlicke2186]

So fun! You are a great artist as well❤️

[@marshavalk]

Thanks, Madeline!

[@EmilyBlitzer]

When I used the Matte medium on the gel plate, it actually stuck to the plate and did not pull the print off very well. I had a very difficult time cleaning it off the plate when done. Any thoughts on what might have gone wrong? I waited until it was completely dry before printing..

[@marshavalk]

Hi Emily, Did you wait for that last layer and the paper to dry too before you pulled it up? Another thing I can think of is that perhaps the pull up layer maybe was too thin? I do have a cleaning tip: the easiest way is to roll on a good layer of paint, place a heavier paper on top and then let the paint and paper dry completely (one hour, couple of hours or overnight depending on the climate) and then pulling that up. You can clean any pigment stains with oil.

[@kymcrowart7876]

Can I use soft pastels? Or oil pastels? Any advice?

[@marshavalk]

Hi! Soft pastels: yes. Look for a video here on the Gelli Arts YT channel called something like Gel Printing With Powders and Pastels. Oil pastels: there are ways to use oil pastels, however, I think you will find that they do not work well directly on the plate. There are videos on how you can use oil pastels and wax crayons in gel printing here on the channel too!

[@maddscientist3170]

being that "Inktense" is dye based product ...does it not stain your gel plate?? and how do you get that off the plate? I can see it working on small plates like you used ..but because of the drying time /air humidity conditions that product drys fast unless you mist it with water prior to rolling on the acrylic which lifts it off the gel plate because of the absorption of the paper or substrate you use.

[@marshavalk]

Hi! As you can see in the video, I clean any residue off with baby oil. I haven’t found that the Inktense stains at all. That said, I haven’t tried all the colours. Are you sure the product is dye-based? I’ve always understood it’s pigment-based, like all other Derwent pencils. I’m not entirely sure what your second question is. Are you asking if what I share in the video is suitable for larger plates? If yes, then yes, it is. You activate the pencil with water in three of the four methods I share. As long as the pencil is activated, it will transfer colour to the plate. The colour must dry on the plate before you can roll on a new layer of paint to pull the print. You can’t roll a new layer of paint on there if the first layer is still wet. That would obliterate (part of the) the drawing. If you do not want to use a new layer of paint to pull the print, use the slow-dry medium method I shared. The OPEN one I used stays wet for hours, if not days. So you could possibly even try pulling a print the next day!

[@Anonymoi]

@@marshavalk Derwent, on its website, says that Inktense products are pigment-based.

[@joychip5994]

Fabulous xxx as usual but I can’t draw xx

[@marshavalk]

Hi Joy! You can doodle, right? It really doesn't have to look like anything, as long as you're having fun!

[@CarrieArtist]

Hi Joy! You could also place a reference photo under the gel plate and trace a design 😊

[@marshavalk]

@@CarrieArtistyes!!! Thanks, Carrie!

[@joychip5994]

@@CarrieArtist thank you I will give it a try.

[@joychip5994]

@@marshavalk can you use woodies ?

[@JustMe-nj6dp]

Are these ideas to destroy gel plates so you sell more. The pencil tip will mark the surface never use anything with point of sharp to draw onto the plate.

[@joychip5994]

Marsha was only touching the plate very carefully she is the best on the gelli plate

[@marshavalk]

If you sharpen an H-grade graphite pencil to a point and then pierce it into the gel plate, then, yes, I guess you are right. However, if you've watched the video, you'd know that that's not what I'm demo-ing here. I'm using a specific kind of pencil. It's water-soluble and gives off colour when activated with water (or medium). It isn't even sharp! However, if you're worried about piercing your plate then you can use Inktense blocks. They work just as well! Enjoy your day!

[@heidikarpa2278]

The inktense pencils were used with a rounded not sharp point and more leaning on their side. Marsha even had a comment that read using the ink tense pencils on the side of their point was more effective. Obviously, jamming a sharp point into the gelli plate would be a bad idea. I think the company sells enough gelli plates, they don’t need to trick you into destroying your plate.

[@sandracampbell9822]

Horrible music!

[@manaloola2018]

I’m wondering why you would make a print of your image if it’s just a one off thing. Why not just make your image directly on the paper and skip the whole printing process since you’re only going to have one image and it’s all done in one go

[@marshavalk]

That’s what a monotype is. It’s a type of printmaking that creates one unique image. As to why you would make such a print: I’m personally much less interested in working directly on paper as a printmaker. I like drawing or painting on paper, but I love printmaking. It’s a different process. You get different marks. It looks different. It feels different. The result just isn’t the same as a drawing or a painting. Try it yourself, and you’ll experience the difference!

[@suzt7076]

I tend to agree with this one…. I’m keen to experiment with inktense on the plate, but the only value I see is in combining layers with other techniques, because I think these results looked very similar to the drawing you would get.

[@manaloola2018]

@@suzt7076 my thinking as well