Botanical Gel Printing - Art Inspired by Nature

One of the best things about printing with a gel plate is that it can capture fine details. It's perfect for taking prints of leaves flowers. This workshop is all about creativity, exploration, and experimentation. We'll be making botanical prints using a gel plate.

A gel (gelli) plate is a flexible, reusable surface that is used for monoprinting. The nature of the plate allows us to blend paint, impress patterns, add layers, and make marks before taking a single amazing print (perhaps along with a "ghost print" or two).

This playful class is suitable for beginners, but more advanced printers are welcome as well. We'll start with a quick intro to some gel plate best practices, and then we'll dive in. We'll have some guided activities while also providing a supportive environment for those who want to wander off on their own.

This workshop uses 5x7" gel plates, acrylic paint, and a variety of plants and flowers for printing. All materials are included. If you have plants or flowers that you'd like to use, please bring them along. The process works best with plants that don't have a lot of loose bits (like dandelion fluff or tiny petals or seeds that will stick to the plate). Flowers that easily press flat, such as hydrangeas, or have a wide detailed surface area like daisies, work better than chunkier blooms like roses. That said, bring whatever catches your eye and be prepared to experiment.

We will be working with acrylic paint. While not intended to be particularly messy, paint can get on clothing. Participants should dress accordingly or bring an apron.

This class is open to participants ages 13+. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A WAIVER ON FILE. We will have hard copies available on site. Please also refer to our parking and accessibility information.

Instructor: Christy Matte is a lifelong artist, crafter, and maker with a diverse background that includes youth work, non-profits, consumer technology, public speaking, and freelance writing. She holds an M.Ed. in Technology in Education from Lesley University and has shared her joy for creative and technological pursuits with kids and adults from Manhattan to Manila. She launched Indigo Whimsy as a way to build a creative community, increase access to less common forms of art, and share her interests with others.