Gel Plate Printing for Mixed-Media Art
Taking your visual storytelling to a new level
Robyn McClendon
Schiffer Craft
Basic synopsis
Let me begin by stating that this is not the book if you want only a step-by-step projects; however it is universally adaptable. I certainly am not proficient in this technique. I will admit, years ago when these gel plates became popular I bought one; so excited and wanting to try something new. Life got in the way and it got left in a drawer - yes - it is still there. However I see this as a key part of our learning within our own practice - the lesson? Keep everything and one day you will be inspired to put the item / thing to use! (That is my excuse to be an avid hoarder anyway) Back to the subject in hand - this book has in fact given me that fresh start and reminder I needed - its so well written I feel empowered to go find my own gel plate and have a play.
Points in brief
Before I forget to mention it, at the back of this book she has gifted readers two stencils - ready for use. It is an if she is feeding us with no excuse not to try.
I would say she is a generous artist, she gives of herself emotionally and in literary experience in this book. It’s a book to instruct and stretch any artist’s mind and to feed their artistic souls and actually their life moments alike.
The points to note are that this book requires very little of a cost value. The gel plate itself once bought, can be washed and used again and again; it is simply another tool in your collection, which I imagine will be housed in a studio or workroom.
The artist themselves
The artist who has written this book has a multi-faceted career path, so her art practice takes in her other education - i.e. she has infiltrated holistic practices with her teaching - such as healing and Reki. Robyn has also studied a niche nature of learning, called ‘ArtMythos’ - this is storytelling through myth within art and plaiting this with her own practice and that she imparts to others who work with her. As an artist who also practices in mixed-media, this book collided with interests close to my heart. Its a large book, thick and has a traditional hardcover with covering (approx 160 pages)
As a person, she has experience in meditation - how can this be involved with art? Actually it can - we can all get lost as it were, in our work, once we are distracted creating something new, the process can be meditative itself. It helps us to make sense of our part of the world, we are seeing something come into existence. We can work alone, or with others - our choice.
Narratives and art - what is the connection?
All the way through the book, this ArtMythos thing is mentioned via boxes on many a page which explain how it works with a particular project we are working on. This gives weight to our work - it now has a story behind it, not simply a nice design without thought. This is actually close to my own heart - having just about got to the month I too will become an author, (book titled Narrative Textiles) My work is yes….story based. It will take me a while to fully understand her ethos here - maybe it was the mood I was in when reading this book for the first time or maybe I just need to do a bit more reseach on her as an artist.
The materials she uses..
Many of the methods and projects illustrated are nature based - using things like onion dye.
Final thoughts
I thought this comment from Robyn herself on her website a nice way to finish this quick tour of the book…
“As an Artist, Healer and Arteomythologist, Telling stories and helping others to heal is at the core of who I am and what I feel called to do. It embraces all that I am inspired to share with the world”.
I have read quite a few books on this technique and I feel strongly that if you purchase this one, you will not need another - it has it all.
Lastly artists who use fabric could also employ this method - if you wish to use the fabric further in textile art, simply plan using paints which will allow for this - such as those which are waterproof etc.