Gel Plate Printing & Mixed Media Collage

Instructor: Heather Neilson

Dates: Thursdays, March 19, 26, April 2 & 9,  2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Ages: 18+

Members: $112.50

Non-Members: $125

(Registration deadline:  March 13)

Description:

Back by popular demand! Explore the playful, layered world of gel plate printing and discover how this versatile process can bring new life to your mixed media work. During the first two sessions, you'll learn how to use a gel plate, brayer, acrylic paint, and a range of tools to create rich, expressive prints full of color and texture. In the final two sessions, you'll transform your prints into 1-3 unique abstract collages on wood panels - including paint, paper, and other mixed media elements to create finished pieces that feel spontaneous, yet refined.

Materials:

Provided by participants (included links to purchase are suggestions for possible options):

• Gel Plate (any size or brand)

  • 8x10" Link to purchase - Amazon

  • 5x7" Link to purchase - Amazon

• Brayer Link to purchase - Amazon

• Variety of papers (the following are ideas for papers to use for gel plate printing, you do not need all of these. A variety will give you good options, but it is your choice of how many you would like to purchase and gather. Also, look around your house for reusable materials. The only types that do not work great are glossy or shiny papers)

  • Copy paper - any kind or brand

  • Book pages

  • Acid-free sketch paper - especially good if concerned about archival quality

  • Tissue paper - white or colored (does not need to be "wet strength" but one which holds up better than regular tissue paper) Link to purchase - Amazon

  • Rice paper Link to purchase - Amazon

  • Butcher paper Link to purchase - Amazon

  • Printmaking paper - nicer quality, can be used for finished prints rather than for collage

    • Strathmore Printmaking paper Link to purchase - Amazon

    • UCreate Printmaking paper Link to purchase - Amazon

• Acrylic paint (your favorite 3+ colors and black and titanium white)

  • GOLDEN OPEN paints (recommended but not required)

  • GOLDEN Fluid acrylics (a few colors is fine)

  • ​​​​​​​Alternative: If you only have regular acrylics and do not want to purchase GOLDEN OPEN paints, you can purchase OPEN medium that can be added to your paint

    • ​​​​​​​GOLDEN Open Medium Link to purchase - Dick Blick

• 1-3 cradled wood panels, recommended size 12x12" but you can work bigger, up to 24” if you wish Link to purchase - Dick Blick

  • ​​​​​​​Alternative: Instead of wood panel, you can work on watercolor or mixed media paper, any size (at least 140 lbs.)

• Soft Gel Semi-Gloss (or glue of your choice if you are experienced) Link to purchase - Amazon

• 2 or more brushes, one at least 1” wide

• Container for water

• Paper towels

• Palette, palette paper or something to mix your paint on

• Apron (optional)

• Latex gloves (optional)

Instructor Bio:

Heather Neilson is an abstract painter and mixed media artist with over 30 years of experience in the studio. She studied at The Art Students League of New York and has trained with several master artists, continuously evolving her process through exploration and experimentation. Over the past decade, Heather has also been an active and passionate art educator, trained by GOLDEN Paints, and committed to helping others tap into their creative voice. Before pursuing art full-time, she worked professionally in marketing and holds a B.A. in Communications from Rutgers University.

Instructor's website: https://www.heatherneilsonart.com

All workshops are held at the Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive

Workshops may be cancelled due to low enrollment if a minimum number of participants are not met. Registrants will be notified in advance and a refund or credit will be arranged (see workshop polices below for details).

Workshop Policies: Please review the terms of our workshop policies here