Gelli Arts® Artists Tutorial

in collaboration with Dare2BArtzy and Tracy Weinzapfel Studios

trip·tych

/ˈtriptik/

noun: a set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together

INSPIRATION

this project was inspired by the three graces in “primavera” by botticelli. these are my spring goddesses in the style of an icon. many of my days as a child were spent staring at the religious icons and triptych images in church and at home (this is all part of a catholic upbringing). they were golden and beautiful and magical. these pictures told amazing stories of heroes and heroines – yea, don’t think i didn’t notice that even women were allowed to be saints…

when i was introduced to botticelli and other masters as an teenager, these images of gods and goddesses, saints and saviors all began to blend, they all seemed to be telling the same story. this is a story line and design i have wanted to pursue for some time in my art and the Dare2BArtzy stamp sets were the perfect opportunity. their whimsical nature was just right for the goddesses’ spring crowns.

TECHNIQUE

for the best tutorial, please view the video tutorial above. below are a few extra tips.

1. choose magazine images that are high in contrast (black and white work best).
2. print magazine image on another magazine page (one with a neutral background – here i used trees in a forest, but you could also use a plain color or text). be sure to use high quality paint for best results and spread your paint evenly before printing.
3. using your gel plate to spread the black paint, stamp flowers, leaves, etc. from the “be the change” and “dream” stamp sets on to the original magazine images or another gel print. do not press too hard on both the gel plate and the paper for best results.
4. cut out all the good bits!
5. using matte medium or modge podge, adhere the large printed images to cardboard, canvas, a box, or wherever your goddess is needed. let it dry.
6. take a moment to decide on the layout of the crown, then gently move off cardboard.
7. using gold ink, a makeup pad, and a sunburst stencil, blot on halos.
8. use the “dotted swirls” stamp set and black ink to stamp and create more background interest for your crowns.
9. using matte medium or modge podge, adhere crowns to the goddesses.
10. paint a gold, copper, or silver metallic frame around your goddess icons.

CREATION

MATERIALS

• Gelli Arts® 4” Roller
• 8”x 10” Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate
• magazine pages (high contrast and neutral background)
• high quality paint (liquitex used here) – purple, red, yellow, black
• metallic paint (dina wakely media used here)
• 1″ paint brush
• gold ink
• sunburst stencil
• Dare2BArtzy “DottedSwirls” (Totally Tracy) Stamp Set
• Dare2BArtzy “Be the Change” (Totally Tracy) Stamp Set
• Dare2BArtzy “Dream” (Totally Tracy) Stamp Set
• Versafine black ink
• spoon for burnishing
• matte medium or modge podge
• scissors