Gel Plate Printing for Beginners - Burton Joyce Library - Adult Learning

Burton Joyce Library, Nottingham

Key details

Date -
Sessions Mondays: 1:15pm - 3:15pm
No. sessions 5
Venue Burton Joyce Library, Nottingham
For ages 19+
Group size 5 - 10
Cost FREE - £35

About this course

Would you like to learn how to mono-print using a gel plate, to create beautiful colourful and textural prints? This course will teach you an exciting new skill to use in your crafting and art making. 


Over the duration of five weeks, you will be shown how to use different techniques and a variety of mediums to create one-off prints using a gel printing plate. You will learn the basics of how to apply paint and other mediums to your gel plate, make interesting marks and patterns and discover how to create a resulting print onto paper. We shall be using stencils, leaves and recycled objects to create the patterns and textures and use mediums such as acrylic paint, pastels and watercolours to experiment with colour and layering. The prints that you will create can be used in many different craft projects. 


By the end of the course, you will:   

  • be able to identify and use different gel printing terminology and vocabulary. 
  • have used different techniques with a variety of tools and mediums to make prints with a gel printing plate.  
  • be able to demonstrate a knowledge of colour theory.
  • have created a stack of prints to make a series of greetings cards and matching tags and/or a collage.  
  • have designed prints that you can use for craft projects such as scrapbooking and journaling.  
  • produce completed work to take home and hang on your wall

Resources required:

  • An apron, big shirt or old clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on. 
  • A set of acrylic paints but essentially basic colours yellow, red, blue, black and white. These can be bought from The Range, The Works, B&M, Hobbycraft, Amazon.  
  • A pack of baby wipes. 
  • A gel plate and brayer if you have one, otherwise one will be provided.  
  • A notebook or sketchbook and pen/pencil. 
  • Different interesting paper to print onto e.g. – copy paper, envelopes, white tissue paper, packing paper, paper bags, newspaper, book pages, maps etc. 
  • Anything you’d think would make an interesting print mark i.e. food packaging, lace. 

Suggested Reading for the course: 

Gelli Arts Website - Gelli Arts | Gelli Arts

Booking your place and fee information

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course, please visit our webpage for further information  https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/funding-your-courses/

To secure your place on the course BOTH the following must be done:

  • Complete the EVENTBRITE BOOKING, AND
  • Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course.

You should be redirected to the Inspire Online Enrolment Form after completing the Eventbrite booking.  If you are not redirected, please use the link supplied in the Eventbrite booking confirmation email.

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).  As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA-funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas:

  • Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 
  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
  • Greater London
  • Greater Manchester
  • Liverpool City Region
  • Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
  • Tees Valley
  • West of England
  • West Midlands
  • West Yorkshire

Any questions?

Check the FAQs page, or get in touch:

Book online with Eventbrite

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