Divine Flow
Gel Plate Workshop
Continuing our tribute to Saraswati, these companion sessions explore a more graphic and layered approach through gel plate printing. Working with simplified symbolic elements—such as the lotus, crown, and mandala—we move from delicate botanical impressions toward stencil work, repetition, texture, and expressive abstraction, while remaining connected to the same spirit of attentive making.
Materials & Optional Resources:
You are welcome to work with your own materials and adapt the process to what you already have. The focus of this workshop is not exact replication but attentive exploration, layering, and creative experimentation.
Suggested materials:
• Gel printing plate (approx. A4 / 8×10 in)
• Brayer / printing roller
• Mixed-media paper, rice paper, copy paper
• Acrylic paints (basic primary palette + black & white)
• Watercolor pencils for details (optional)
• Fresh or pressed leaves and flowers
• Pencil and transfer paper (optional)
• Thin cardboard or paper for stencil making
• Scissors or precision cutter
Optional download PDF for each video:
• Materials guide
• Materials photo reference
• Traceable stencil templates
• Color suggestions
• Reference images
Materials I used (optional)
▼ Plate: Gel Press 8×10 in
▼ Paper: Canson XL Mix Media 300 g (video 1) and rice paper/copy paper
▼ Paint: Ampersand acrylics
▼ Pencils: Faber Castell watercolor pencils
▼ Transfer: Pelikan carbon paper
What we’ll explore here:
• Translating Saraswati’s symbolic language into expressive gel plate compositions
• Exploring botanical textures through layered gel printing and natural forms
• Creating handmade stencils from lotus, crown, mandala, and simplified motifs
• Building color relationships through transparent and opaque acrylic layers
• Working with repetition, contrast, and texture to create visual rhythm
• Letting observation, play, and layered discovery guide the creative process
Gel Plate Printing 1 | Botanical Layers & Symbolic Stencils
In this first companion session, we reinterpret Saraswati through gel plate printing, combining botanical textures with handmade stencils and layered color. Working with symbolic elements such as the crown, lotus, and mandala, we build expressive compositions through repetition, transparency, and experimentation while remaining connected to the same spirit of attentive making.
Video 1 · Gather • Print • Layer
(Textures & Symbols)
• Gather botanical impressions
• Create simple symbolic stencils
• Build layered gel plate compositions
Gel Plate Printing 2 | A Different Approach to Layering
In this second companion session, we revisit the Saraswati-inspired exploration through a lighter and more experimental approach to gel plate printing. Working on copy paper and delicate rice paper, we move away from handmade stencils and begin incorporating everyday found objects alongside botanical elements to create unexpected textures and layered effects.
This session invites spontaneity and playful experimentation—welcoming imperfect prints, subtle transparencies, and surprising combinations while remaining connected to the same themes of attentive making, creativity, and artistic flow.
Video 2
(Experimentation & Variation)
• Print on alternative papers
• Explore found textures and household objects
• Build expressive layered compositions