Monoprinting with a gel press: the materials you need to get started

[@katemorgan4346]

You are creatively brilliant!

[@HeartstoneArt]

You are too kind!

[@leighmcgrady771]

I love what you do with a gel plate. I have seen nothing like it!

[@HeartstoneArt]

Thanks!

[@leslienewman2052]

This is so helpful exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@HeartstoneArt]

You are so welcome!

[@ChapmanGriffith]

Great information especially your paint color choices. Luckily for me I have most of the the supplies you covered.

[@HeartstoneArt]

Awesome! I hope you’ll share what you create.

[@carolinewilliams657]

Really useful thanks. I already have a lot of acrylic paint so can I just buy the acrylic medium and mix my paints with it for now?

[@HeartstoneArt]

Yes, absolutely.

[@carolinewilliams657]

@@HeartstoneArt thank you :-)

[@knackability7098]

I love your videos! I have a lot of Golden heavy body paints and would like to add the Open medium to them to use on the gel plate. What ratio for regular acrylics to medium do you use? Or can you direct me to one of your videos where you explain this? Thank you

[@HeartstoneArt]

Thanks so much! I’m afraid I’m not much for exact ratios - more a drop here and a drop there. Golden recommend no more than 1 part medium to 3 parts paint, but I’d probably use less that that. I’d recommend playing with it and trying to figure out the least amount of medium to give you the drying time you want.

[@knackability7098]

@@HeartstoneArt Thanks!

[@MrNocebo]

The Golden Cobalt Teal is no longer a transparent colour here in the UK. Have you had any experience with the new version of the colour? Thank you for such an informative video.

[@HeartstoneArt]

The original cobalt teal has been re-released in the US. I have no experience of the replacement hue.

[@debbymartinich156]

I'm excited to follow along. I have a lot of these supplies already. Are we able to use India ink or acrylic ink, or are the Open acrylics the best option?

[@HeartstoneArt]

You'll find the inks are too viscous to use on the gel plates. They bead up. You can use a standard acrylic paint but you won't get the same working time. Be aware that not all acrylics are made equal. I love Blickrylics for painting, for example, but they don't work well on the gel press. Liquitex basics or a standard heavy body acrylic should be fine.

[@debbymartinich156]

@@HeartstoneArt OK thanks! I have some open acrylics I could use, but I have a ton of inks, so was hoping those might work too. I'm putting this one in queue to try. I've been watching your series of videos on FB. so am glad to see what you are offering over here. You're very talented!

[@starboard6372]

Nobody these seems to ever mention, or USE a barren on so many of these HOW-TO videos...and I've watched a lot? Hmmm. Not a criticism...just an observation. I think barrens are essential!

[@HeartstoneArt]

Barrens are not needed for my method of gelli plate printing. You’re right they they would be used for most printing techniques.