A couple of weeks ago I ordered a new "Gelli Plate" and I'm having a ball playing with it!! I recently learned how to make monotypes and like the way the ghost images can be used for added texture and shapes for my paintings, but wasn't completely sold on making a lot of them. That is, until I learned about the Gelli Plate. Basically the plate reminds me of the stuff we used to use in biology in the Petri dishes.....it's clear and firm and you add paint with a brayer to the surface to make cool designs that are transferred onto Rives BFK paper or tissue paper. Below are some "word stones" I'm making, using the designs collaged onto 140-lb. watercolor paper.
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| "Secret Garden" - 6" x 6" mixed media on paper |
I like the lines and wrinkles in the paper stones -- they add depth and texture to the piece.
It's really difficult for me to stop and these new studies are helping me with my minimalist compositions that I so admire in other artist's work.
Learning how to say "STOP" creatively has evaded me for years and I figured it was time to get serious.
Here's hoping I can find that comfort zone so I can carry this exercise further onto my larger paintings. It may look easy to some to simply make a few lines on a page and walk away, saying "it's done" - but for me (and a lot of other artists I know!) it really is not that simple. There's always the desire to keep adding just one more thing, and the next thing I know, the piece is a mess and I pull out the gesso and start over again. Sometimes I do this a number of times (my secret for added texture) - but after nearly 3 decades of painting, it's time to simplify.
I'm not ready to give up the bold, vivacious colors quite yet - but I am finding that less is more, and not the other way around. So it might take awhile to get comfortable with that feeling of angst as I put down the brush and walk away, but I'm hoping the results will be worth it.
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| "Pure Harmony" - 6" x 6" mixed media on paper |
These are fabulous creations, JJ. Love the shapes, the colors on tissue paper....so cool. Keep going, no Stop! ; )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful stone gelli tissue paper piece! I love stones and I love gelli prints a great idea to use tissue paper but how do you pull the paper off the paint? Doesn't it stick horribly? I was actually hopping around the bead hoarders and so happy to find your art. :) have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Juniper!! I'm sorry I missed the Blog Hoarders hop but was slammed with other obligations.
ReplyDeleteI found the tissue paper works beautifully and isn't hard to pull off at all. It seems to pull more paint from the surface, and I am able to build up several layers. Just be sure to let the layers dry in between, and don't let the paint get too juicy on the Gelli plate. I love my Gelli!!!!