2019 #16 Stamp Carving: Stamping on a Gel Plate with EGL {by Nikki Acton}

2019 Topic 16: Stamp Carving

Using her gel plate and some inspired 'stamp-carved'-like images from Gwen Lafleur's wonderful new stamps, Nikki has created some art with depth that doesn't look like its just a monoprint. Lovely subtractive techniques make the pieces look like they've got real carvings incorporated.

Hi everyone, it's Nikki with you today from Addicted to Art. I am excited to be using stamps from PaperArtsy's newest designer today, Gwen Lafleur. I have been a huge fan of her work for a while and love these stamps.

I am using set 1 today, EGL01 which Gwen calls her 'Medallions' set. These hand drawn stamps have a hand carved vibe about them (not surprising, Gwen also carves her own stamps). Still being a little obsessed with gel printing currently I decided to combine her images with some mono printing.

There are three layers to these cards which all feature the repeated motifs of the medallions on EGL01.

The background, mostly hidden, is a gel print where the paint has been removed. I have brayered paint over the plate and then repeatedly stamped onto the plate, removing the paint off the stamp each time.

For the cut out medallions I have stamped over the same background - in this case in Cobalt Archival ink. 

On the middle layer I stamped the same image a couple of times onto my Smoothy cardstock - in Majestic Violet Archival.

I love how the removed paint gives this wonderful subtle effect of the stamped image. My current favourite colours on this one; Byzantium, Midnight and Professor Plum.

The wonderful words are from Alison Bomber's new stamp set - EAB14 - The Happiness Editon.

 

I repeated the process using a different set of colours - Professor Plum, Autumn Fire and Red Lipstick. This time instead of taking my print as soon as I had finished stamping off the plate, I waited until the paint was dry. I then added a thin layer of Butter Fresco Acrylic and took my print. The wet layer brings most of the dry paint with it - but gives a slightly different effect to the first card. (The darker colour you might see is some Midnight left on the plate from the first print - but this just adds to the background.)

The medallions were stamped in Black Archival and Orange Blossom. The birthday greeting is PaperArtsy Eclectica³ Mini 18.

Do get your gel plate out and have a go! These images stamp so beautifully they are wonderful for this technique. (Do clean your stamps quickly afterwards though - it's a lot easier to do this while the paint is wet.) I am looking forward to collaging lots of these medallions stamped on different coloured gel prints possibly onto a canvas or board. I also have several stamped which are providing wonderful colouring in playtime!

Thanks for joining me today, I hope you have a creative week.

Nikki x

Blog: Addicted to Art

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