Tutorial: How to make abstract landscapes with a gel plate
TUTORIAL
If you’ve ever wanted to turn your gel prints into something more painterly, try abstract landscapes. This technique is simple, playful, and a great way to explore layering with color and texture. You don’t need special tools—just your gel plate, a few paints, and a little imagination.
Whether you’re a beginner learning how to use a gel plate or an experienced printmaker looking for fresh ideas, this process will help you create prints that feel like little worlds on paper.
Here’s how to do it…
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• A gel plate (any size)
• Acrylic paints (transparent or translucent paints are especially useful)
• Brayer
• Plastic palette knife (or any texturing tool)
• Your favorite mark making tools
• Paper for printing
• Optional: viewfinders for cropping
STEP 1: CREATE THE SKY
Start with the top of your landscape. Roll out a thin layer of white paint with just a touch of blue. Let the brayer naturally create streaks and marks—these become your clouds. Don’t worry about perfection; the sky often looks more interesting with variation.
STEP 2: ADD THE FOREGROUND
Next, roll green paint across the lower part of the plate. Then make vertical and horizontal marks. A plastic palette knife works well here because it adds uneven textures, like grass or hills. Remember, you don’t need to cover the entire plate with paint. Then add the paper and pull the print.
STEP 3: BUILD LAYERS WITH COLOR AND TEXTURE
Now comes the fun part. Add more layers of paint, experimenting with different colors and tools. Scrapers, combs, sponges, or even found objects can all create interesting textures in your landscape.
Try using translucent or transparent paints for certain layers. These paints allow earlier textures to show through, giving your abstract landscape depth and atmosphere.
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR LANDSCAPES SUCCESSFUL
Play with transparency: Try using translucent or transparent paints for certain layers. These paints allow earlier textures to show through, giving your abstract landscape depth and atmosphere.
Work in multiples: While you’ve got paint on the plate, make several prints. Each one will come out a little different, and you’ll quickly build a collection of abstract landscapes.
Experiment with timing: See what happens when you leave the paper on the plate for different amounts of time. Sometimes letting it sit for a minute or two before pulling can give you stronger transfers and more defined textures.
Use viewfinders for cropping: Once your prints are dry, try looking at them through viewfinders (simple cut-out windows in card work great). This helps you find the most compelling composition within a print—sometimes the magic is in a smaller crop.
HAVE FUN!
Abstract landscape gel prints are a perfect mix of freedom and surprise. By layering paint, playing with textures, and experimenting with timing, you’ll create prints that suggest skies, fields, and horizons—without ever painting them directly.
So grab your gel plate, roll out some paint, and let the landscapes appear.
Happy printing!
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO WITH ALL THOSE GEL PRINTS?
I collage with my gel plate prints in board books. Yep, children’s board books!
Board books are so much more interesting than a typical sketchpad. Aaaand, they're a total blast! With just a few tips I can help you learn the ins and outs to collaging in board books in my popular FREE online class, Build your Creativity: Board Book Basics!
