Lesson 2: Gelli Plate Printing

1. How does the "squishy" plate feel when we roll paint on it? 2. What happens to the "bottom" layer of paint when we add a "top" layer? 3. Is every print the same, or is each one a surprise?

Gelli Plate, Monoprint, Brayer (Roller), Pulling a Print, Ghost Print.

VA:Cr2.1.HS1 (Experiment with materials, concepts, media, and art-making approaches).

Sequential Logic: Understanding the "Reverse Order" of layers (what you put down first often shows up last).

Students roll paint onto a Gelli plate using a brayer, lay textures (stencils, combs, or leaves) on top, and press paper down to "lift" the image. Purpose: To explore tactile media and the concept of "transfer" without the need for a heavy printing press. DOK Level 2.

Screen-printed t-shirts; how a rubber stamp works; the way a "temporary tattoo" transfers from paper to skin.

Thinking they can make 100 copies of the same image (explaining that a monoprint is a "one-time" magic trick).

Physical: Use Weighted Brayers or rollers with oversized handles for students with limited grip strength. The Gelli plate itself is non-slip, which helps students work one-handed.

Visual: Use High-Contrast Paint Colors (e.g., neon on black paper) to make the textures easier to see.

Sensory: The "squish" of the plate is a great sensory tool. For students who are tactile-defensive, they can use the brayer as a barrier so they never have to touch the "sticky" paint directly.

• • The student will produce a multi-layered monoprint and can identify the "Ghost Print" versus the "Full Print" when shown both.