What's the point of all those textures?

My first experience with a gel plate was through a workshop about 14 years ago. I credit the approach in that initial exposure to the approach I still use today in my work. We weren't trying to create a stash of collage papers, or papers for some other purpose. And, we weren't doing image transfers, which are a popular gel printing technique today. The focus was on making monoprints (or monotypes) using our own hand cut stencils and found textures. 

While I still had SO MUCH to learn about gel printing, paint, papers, etc... I left inspired and curious. I started looking at objects around me in a different way, wondering what kind of mark or shape they would create on a gel plate. 

For many years bubble wrap was my go to texture. I loved being able to create rows of small circles, that could be pressed more or less depending on how exact I wanted them to appear in the print. 

Today when I think about gel printing textures there are two phases, the play stage and the plan stage. All of my "Texture of the Week" experiments are part of the play stage, where I'm trying to explore shape, pattern, and feel. And answer questions like this...

• Is it geometric or organic?
• Rough and gritty or crisp and clean? 
• How would it fit in the work I want to make?
  
• Would it make an interesting line or surface texture for rocks?
• What size print would it fit? Could I use it as a scale up my work?
• And, more recently could this be used for an interesting class project?

As I work through these questions I'm trying to come up with a plan or a guide to help keep me on track. I find that it's helpful to create a "texture palette", which is really setting a limitation to the number of different texture I might grab as I work. 

Just like with colors or shapes, if I let myself have too many texture choices I can get overwhelmed and lose focus. 

I keep track of textures in my sketch book, cutting out bits of printed papers and making notes, so I don't forget what I did or how I printed something. This helps me see how different textures and colors work together. 

(a few pages from my sketch/idea book where I've made notes about textures.)

The leftover pieces of paper will end up in my pile of collage material, which I use for mixed media collages, but sometimes cull down by offering paper packs for sale. 

Hopefully, this provides some insight into my process and endless fascination with found textures. If you enjoying making gel printed papers with found textures, and need some ideas for what to do with all of them.....check out this other blog post from October 2024.

And, here are links to my recent Texture of the Week blog posts:

• Honesty Seed Pods
• Paint "Boogers" Stamp
• Rokr Puzzle Pieces
• A Clump of Thread
• Lego Bricks
• Mark Making with Water
• Rolling Marbles

Thanks for reading and please let me know if you have any questions about my process or gel printing in the comments.