: Gelli Arts Printing Plates

Gelli plates are a clever bit of American problem-solving. Traditional gelatin printing plates had to be cooked up fresh from gelatin and water, kept in the fridge, and replaced every few weeks when they cracked or grew mould. Joan Bess set out to fix that, and the result is the Gelli plate: a permanent, durable printing surface with the same tacky, ink-receptive feel as gelatin, made from mineral oil and proprietary binders, and effectively indestructible if you look after it.

Monoprinting on a Gelli plate doesn't need a press. Roll out acrylic or water-based block printing ink, lay in textures with stencils, leaves, bubble wrap, anything with a pattern — then press paper onto the surface and lift the print. Each pull is a one-off, which is the whole point of "mono"-printing. Two pulls from the same inking are usually quite different, which is half the fun.

We stock the standard rectangular range from 5×7" up to 12×14" for individual artists, plus class packs of eleven plates in 5×7" and 8×10" for schools and workshops. Pair them with printmaking inks, a soft brayer, and printing paper — that's everything you need to start pulling prints this afternoon.

A Gelli plate cleans up with soap and water and lives flat in its original packaging. Treat it well and it'll outlast most of your brushes.