gel printing
Try this delightful art form—you’ll be amazed at what you create!
Gel printing is a playful, hands-on printmaking technique that turns everyday materials into beautiful, one-of-a-kind art. Using a soft gel plate, paint, and a touch of experimentation, you can create rich textures, bold patterns, and endless layers. It’s a process that encourages creativity, spontaneity, and happy surprises. Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned artist, gel printing invites you to let go, have fun, and make magic with color and shape.
How it works
Gel printing has its roots in traditional monoprinting, where artists once made their own plates using gelatin—a wobbly, homemade surface that allowed for rich, textured prints. It was a bit messy and didn’t last long, but it offered a fun and experimental way to create art without a press.
Today, you can skip the stovetop and get straight to the magic with ready-made gel plates that are durable, reusable, and easy to use. Just roll on a layer of paint, press in something with texture—a leaf, stencil, string, or even bubble wrap—then place your paper on top and pull a print. Every result is a little surprise, and no two prints are ever the same!
Want to learn more about gel printing? My Youtube channel, Jenna McLean Art, has a playlist devoted to full-length gel print videos and shorts. So does my Instagram account. Watch me gel print with magazine pages, plants, seashells and starfish, stencils, stamps, trash from my recycling bin (yes, even trash looks good) and other objects.
At the bottom of this page you can check out "Gel Plate Printing 101: Complete Tutorial for Beginners" from my Youtube channel. You'll learn everything you need to know to get started.
Gel printing is a terrific art form: it doesn't require a lot of space, money or time. It's great for kids because the tools are safe to work with, and kids can get fast, beautiful results!
Want to grab my free Gel Printing Supply List? It's really important to buy the right kind of paint, because if you don't, your prints won't have a lot of crisp detail. The supply list spells out what kind of paint to buy, along with paper and the plate (and there are links for purchasing). The list contains the exact same tools I use in my art practice, so click here to get yours.
