29 November 2024
Mrs Lucy Darby, Teacher of Art
At our recent print workshop, students in Year 9 worked with gelli plates, using rollers to apply a layer of colour with acrylic paint before laying natural forms, including feathers, leaves and flowers, to create interesting compositions. They next laid papers stained with inks and applied pressure before peeling the paper away from their plates to reveal the prints. The girls then experimented by using chalk pastels on the surface of the plate before applying the paint to create more exciting prints. They also embellished their prints with patterns in gold and silver. The process allowed students to explore different materials, composition, colour combinations and textures, problem-solving as they worked, to create a striking body of work that is now on display in school.
Charlotte - We learnt about complementary colour theory and how to layer prints to create a detailed illustration. At first, we experimented with different techniques and colour combinations, then we used various botanicals, improving our art by adding further details to focus the viewer's eye. When we got to our final pieces, we added detail using gold and silver gel pens to illuminate the natural elements within our work. We had fun sharing ideas and applying different approaches to our work to make it our own.
Helena - I really enjoyed using the tools and experimenting with a variety of colours. Mixing the different colours was quite difficult- we had to wait until the bottom layer of paint dried before adding the second layer of a different coloured paint onto the plate.
Ophelia - The workshop was fun and interesting. Gelli printing became easier the more we progressed, and it was fascinating to experiment with different things, such as stencils.
