Trying out my gelli plate .. be warned .. lots of images

I have to admit that when I start creating I do tend to get carried away and make quite a lot. I like to work fast and suspend judgement to try and access more of my innate creativity. So I always make good quantities. But there is something about mono-printing that really gets me and I go into overdrive. I remember making my first monoprints for my course at Design Matters and sending Marie Roper tens and tens of images, as I just hadn't been able to stop. So that's my excuse here .. and I have seriously culled the number too .. I made at least three times this many!!

 

I was trying out one of the new gelli plates. I know everyone else seems to have already played - but I hadn't and was all prepared to be unimpressed and return to my cheap sheet of acetate. So I pootled out into the garden last week and put my first layer of paint on my plate. I wanted some prints of my hands for the work I plan for the Identity exhibition with Art Textiles: Made in Britain at FOQ 2014 .. I have some direct prints already, so decided to start by trying some gelli hand-prints ....

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm - actually rather nice and I do think that I am getting more texture than with acetate  .. so next up - some stamps ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

not all the dog ....

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK - I'm liking this thing ..cut my apple in half ... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and combined it with a rubbing plate ....

 

 

bit of photo-shopping ...

 

 

 

the plate is picking up the texture so well .. I think the only other thing that would do this like this would be a real gelatine plate .. but that require planning ... not my strong suit. I decided to try some finer leaves and grasses .... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and some feathers .. on stamps .. 

 

 

 

and direct on the plate 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

I have used  opaque and shimmer paints and washes of procion dye. These are just begging to be stitched into now. And my plate will definitely be getting a lot more use. In fact - I have got the real biggie one now, I loved it so much. Just shows - you should try things before you judge.

 

I said I'd post some more images of the gardens at Harlow Carr in Harrogate . but I think you might have had enough images for one day. So I'll save them for next time .. and just post one more ...

 

 

More beautiful white anemones - just for you Maggi! Thank you for joining me ...talk soon - Hilary x

I may yet be a domestic goddess, more dahlias and Art van Go make a brave move!

This is going to be a very unusual post for me .. I am doing domestic kitchen things .. well - I am planning to. I examined our plum tree yesterday and discovered this lot ...

 

 

This made me feel I should do something thrifty and country wife-ish, like maybe bottle them?? So I got these .....

 

 

I am now at a bit of a halt .. but am fairly sure I need to put these together with the plums and add some heat and we will be off. I honestly used to do quite a lot of this sort of thing in our old house - it sort of suggested it. Well - now this one has .. so I will report progress (or not - could just scoff the lot?)

 

I promised some more dahlias - but first .. just let me share some news with you. I do not have a stand at the Knitting and Stitching show  at Ally Pally ... BUT .. I shall be there on Saturday and Sunday .. demonstrating for those nice people at Art van Go. Letting me loose on their stand is a very brave thing for Kev and Viv to do .. especially as it will be like playing in a very full and  exciting sweetie shop for me. And I am not sure if they have seen the mess I can make either. But I am planning to be a model of goodness and behave impeccably . so if you are there - do come by and say hello. London scares me a little ( I am a northern soul) - so friendly faces would be very welcome. Hopefully I will leave some stuff for others to buy as well. They did ask me what my colour palette was .. tricky that .. this sums it up really ..

 

 

Everything basically. And please excuse that blobby stencil .. I did not shake my can well enough and it splobbed, so I had to go in with a finger. Still very nice and was done really to try out one of my new stencils ...this one is sunburst and is going to be very useful I think.

 

Ok - dahlias ...  get ready - I've got lots. I've also been playing a bit with paint shop pro .. so you have variations here too ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for those who missed her on facebook - here is Missy Pig .. a new member of the family who now lives (and flies) in the crab apple tree

 

 

 

I first saw her at a sculpture exhibition in the swan sanctuary near here - I must look out those photos for you too .. it was a fantastic display. But now - back to work .. thanks for visiting - Hilary x