Playing with Positive and Negative

Let's experiment with botanicals on the gel plate. A few months ago while I was gel printing, in an unplanned moment, I did something which created an interesting result. Today I am going to explore this further.
I call it a Positive / Negative print, where some of the botanicals are removed (and print positive images) while others are left on the plate and create voids (hence the negative element).
Once that is printed, I remove the rest of the botanicals and print a Ghost / Positive print.
Take a look at my previous video for more botanical gel printing,
• Gel Printing - Weeds a...
If you are interested in what I do with these prints, click on my Gel Printing and Mixed Media Playlist for the full process,
• Gel Printing and Mixed...
If you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I will reply to you!
Happy printing

[@libbykalinowski5799]

Thank you Kit. You bring art to the gel plate in a lovely way. Keep your videos coming!

[@KitBellArtist]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@debeisenmann6162]

very cool! Will have to explore this! Your “blooper” amused me because I made that mistake last night and was fascinated by the effect and ended up spending the next hour making more intentional mistakes 😂. Now I call it my drop and lift technique, rather than blooper. 👍🏼

[@KitBellArtist]

I think so much can be learned when we embrace our oppsies!

[@patriciadistefano7467]

Great idea and love your color choices. I look forward to trying this technique. Thank you so much.

[@KitBellArtist]

You are so welcome! Happy printing!

[@KitBellArtist]

Have fun!

[@heathersilverio7057]

Thank you so much! You have inspired me greatly and now I'll be in a rush to print the weeds too! I find I have more time in winter to collage however, NOW is when I should be grabbing these botanicals to print

[@KitBellArtist]

Make hay while the sun shines!

[@eileenkahan8942]

Very creative idea to use both the negative and positive images together. Wonderfully exciting results!

[@KitBellArtist]

Thank you! I am looking forward to exploring this some more this summer!

[@avanellehansen4525]

Excellent! I sometimes fill the negative shapes in the first print with asemic writing and or acrylic glazes in green gold.

[@KitBellArtist]

That's a great idea! Love green gold!

[@bronwenquick]

Oh Kit, I was so hoping you would do some more videos, as I was somewhat confused by your first lot…I'm older and have a harder times with things these days, but I trudge on! Now I am understanding!!!! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! And thank you for sharing all this with others. 💕💕

[@KitBellArtist]

Glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@karinlease3544]

These are beautiful!

[@KitBellArtist]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@avanellehansen4525]

I have done a ghost print (in different direction) on same tissue paper, but I really like your process of removing part of the vegetation. ❤

[@KitBellArtist]

I have printed ghosts over ghosts with some interesting results. I like the ghost/positive combinations too!

[@ellenstoune8937]

Wow! What a beautiful discovery and idea. Thank you for sharing this with us. Also and if you're willing, I'd love to know more about making stencils with the negative prints. Just gorgeous work here! And I know what you mean about the heat... down here in South Carolina, everything is drying up, even though we also have extremely high humidity.

[@KitBellArtist]

I will create a video about creating stencils from strong negative prints but I am afraid it involves some technical stuff on the computer. Or, of course, you can trace the image and then hand cut a stencil.

[@michelleinScotland]

Really interesting, thank you.

[@KitBellArtist]

Thank you for watching!

[@wendyb9179]

Thank you Kit, I loved watching your creative process and really appreciated your spacious and relaxed presentation. Could you please share the name of the tissue paper again. I am new to gel printing, so new I havent used mine yet and I am very inspired by this video and I know I will find much inspiration watching your other videos. It's such an exciting technique, thank you for sharing it.

[@KitBellArtist]

The tissue I use is Spectra Art Tissue. It is available in North America. Some art supply stores carry it. I get it in larger quantities from Staple online.

[@marshamarkle7765]

Great idea, sensational results!

[@KitBellArtist]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@sarahmullins5478]

Thanks for a great video. I really love the combo of positive and negative. My paint never lasts this long, but after this, I will try using just the open and see if that helps. I really want the detail in the botanicals.

[@KitBellArtist]

Golden Open paint is a game changer on the gel plate!

[@lindadamon2453]

Really inspiring Kit. Im in Australia and i have a fascination with the ground cover, forest and verges. I've been trying to find a way to get depth by layering eucalyptus leaves of varied shapes and this method looks like a brilliant way! I'm excited to give it a try. Thank you so much ❤

[@KitBellArtist]

Do try it out! I was quite fascinated with the results. I will be doing more of this over our summer.

[@frananderson7615]

love this! Kit can you do a video on how you make your botanical stencils?

[@KitBellArtist]

Thanks! Lots to explore with this technique. I am working on a video covering how I make botanical stencils. It will be ready soon!

[@suellenterry6618]

Very interesting this one Kit I will give it a go. Also I am still hanging out for the tissue paper ‘experimentation ‘ that was in video 9 I think,as I have tried to create it but not succeeding.thankyou Suellen

[@KitBellArtist]

What was that in video 9 you are referring too? Maybe I can help.

[@suellenterry6618]

@@KitBellArtist yes Kit it was the ombre tissue paper you had done and used some of it to cut out and glue onto your painting.You where going to make a video on how to paint (or print) the tissue .The tissue used in video 9.

[@KitBellArtist]

@@suellenterry6618 Aw yes. I used a glue gun and a toilet paper roll. I have a video in the works right now to demonstrate that and some other tool making/printing ideas. Stay tuned😁

[@suellenterry6618]

@@KitBellArtistoh thats great!

[@qso3566]

These prints are wonderful! Thanks for sharing. Could you tell me what tissue paper you used here? TY

[@KitBellArtist]

Thanks! The tissue paper is Spectra Art Tissue available from art supply stores in North America and from Staples.ca online in Canada. I find it stronger than dollar store tissue. It is quite transparent when collaged. Not as strong as Wet Strength tissue from Carnival in the UK.

[@qso3566]

@@KitBellArtist Appreciate your reply! Will look for that paper. Thanks again for sharing your work.

[@hansendesigns]

Is the tissue paper archival? :)

[@KitBellArtist]

Spectra Art Tissue is made by Pacon and is acid free. I am comfortable using it in fine art work. The stuff from the dollar store is not archival.

[@swl9270]

@@KitBellArtistit seem durable is it wet strength?

[@swl9270]

Stunning pieces! Reminds me of tre’ elegant wallpaper❤

[@KitBellArtist]

@@swl9270 no. The wet strength tissue is made by Carnival in the UK. This is not as strong as that but much better than dollar store tissue. I have some of the wet strength tissue to try out. It may feature in a future video! But it is harder to get in Canada and somewhat expensive. But I think it may have some uses where Spectra would not be strong enough.

[@swl9270]

@@KitBellArtist thanks for the reply! I’ve recently been introduced to medical exam paper that performs very well on the plate and holds up to a quick spritz of water, gel medium on the substrate to collage it down. Cheap and affordable. But always like learning about other papers. TFS