Gelatine Printing

jennifer petz

Gelatine Printing

The amazingly enjoyable way to
log in to your creative spirit...

What is Gelatine Printing?

Gelatine Printing is a type of monoprint. A monoprint is a unique print that cannot be repeated and made in series. Traditionally monoprints are made by "painting" or applying ink to a sheet of glass and then placing a piece of paper over it, applying some pressure to transfer the ink to the paper.

Essentially the process in gelatine printing is the same, other than the fact that instead of using glass, I use a homemade gelatine slab.

Experimental, exciting, relaxing art making...

The ink or paint on the gelatin slab is extremely sensitive to impressions made by almost anything with some structure. The veins on a leaf, the seeds of some wild grass or even material of an old sock will leave you amazed at the hidden beauty of things we see every day, but never so fine.

It basically comes down trying it out. Try out combinations of structures, in layers and different colors, and every time you pull a print there is a moment of expectation before you see what you have made.

Build your print from layers of structure and color.

Using a combination of leaves, stencils and onion net I created this print. The very light part of the face was a "ghost" print from a previous print. The leaves were transfered through as stencil to create the hair. The eye and eyebrow were made using stencil as the last step.

Telling stories with color and structure.

Using a set of stencils I cut from card, onion net, plant material, stamps and masks (the piece that comes out of the stencil) and many layers it is possible to tell a story and create an atmosphere. I got quite home-sick while doing this series.

African ladies

This is how I made these prints.

Peep over my shoulder and see how I use stencils to make these prints.

Follow this link to my Etsy shop to
see these prints.

Free download

Download a copy of the booklet I made because so many people asked me about my process. There is also a recipe and the instructions on how to make your own gelatine printing slab in any size you need.

Download the English version here Here is the German version.

Want to know how to do it?

Gelatine printing basics.

Using a small gelatine slab, I demonstrate a few of the basics of gelatine printing.

Making your own
gelatine slab.

Here's how to make your own gelatine printing slab. The great thin is that you get to decide how big its going to be. It is cheap and easy to do. You can find the recipe in the booklet which you can download for free.

No time to shop for equipment?

No problem - just order your gelatine printing art starter box online in my Etsy shop.

If you have any questions, let me know. I will be happy to help you.

Find out more

"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones." -- Bruce Garrabrandt

Project:
"Face of old age"

We're all getting older and the question in my mind is "How old do I want to get?"
I looked up famous people who had celebrated thei 100th birthday and was amazed that these people had lived so long.
I also tried to tell the story of growing older and losing a partner, and what that must feel like as well as capture the memories that one must have after 100 years of living.

Different methods for different effects...

Tulips

I painted these tulips directly onto the gelatine and then pulled a print.

By using the left over paint from a previous print and painting on top of it, I was able to have a very creative background.

Abstract landscape

These small prints were made by first using a palette knife to paint onto the gelatine.

This form of painting really requires that I let go of wanting it to become "something" and be open to what happens.

Hi, I'm Jennifer

Gelatine printing is a place where I can be creative withouth the pressure of being an artist. By using every day things that I find around the house like old magazines, stamps and stencils I can have fun and get in touch with my creative child and once again enjoy the feeling of being connected with myself, my world, my universe.
I'm a graphic artist / web designer and I'm seriously infected by the Gelatine Printing Bug. I speak English and German, I was born in South Africa and I'm 51 years old.

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get in touch if you have any questions or feedback. I'd love to hear from you.

Contact Me

The process in pictures.

November 1, 2021

A short trip through the gelatine printing process.

English