Welcome to the Gelli Arts blog!

If you've expolored gelatin printing, you know how much fun it can be! The process is easy, immediate, experimental... and before you know it you have a stack of fabulous prints!

I love all kinds of printmaking methods, gelatin printing most of all. But it made me crazy when I didn't have a plate ready. Or my plate fell apart at the wrong time. Or was damp with humidity and turned mushy. And no room in the refrigerator to keep it fresh. Ugh! Too many negatives getting in the way of the creative process!

Know what I mean?

So I started thinking about a printing plate with the look and feel of gelatin, that would always be ready for printing. It had to be easy to use, easy to clean, store at room temperature, and of course, be totally non-toxic.

That's when I ran the idea past my friend, Lou Ann, an accomplished business whiz. She came over to my studio for a gelatin printing session and got hooked on the process.

We looked everywhere for a non-perishable gel plate. But no such thing seemed to exist. If we wanted it, we would have to develop it. And we wanted it with a passion! So Lou Ann said, "Okay! Let's do it!"

And Gelli Arts was started. With a dream for a better way to monoprint without a press. We spent the last year developing the Gel Printing Plate because we knew we weren't the only ones who would love to have it!

That's our story. I'm Joan Bess, Chief Gelli Artist and my business partner, Lou Ann Gleason, is our Chief Gelli Marketer. We're here to share monoprinting techniques, experiments, projects and Gelli news. If you have questions or comments, we look forward to hearing them! If you have Gelli prints you'd like to share, we'd love to see them! Please send us your Gelli art jpegs ... they may end up in our gallery!

Here's a look at a book I made of Gelli prints. 

The prints are various acrylic paints on Rives BFK printmaking paper. The covers and end papers are acrylics printed on plain computer paper! I did a 6-needle Coptic binding, and used the fabulous extra long 1/8� eyelets from Volcano Arts. Love them! I'll be back soon with info on exciting printing techniques ... and more!