FULL DAY EXPERIENCE ¥17,000 per person |
| 1. GEL PLATE(S) My favourite size of Gel Plate is the 8 x 10 inch plate. This plate is great for A4 monotype prints and for using as a mixing palette. This is the one we use most in the workshops. | 2. BRAYER (ROLLER) The brayer we use most in the workshops at Studio Biku is 10cm. This size is not too big, not too small and is easy to handle. A perfect workhorse for most projects. Larger plates require a completely different skill-set due to paint drying time. Get your paint on the plate quickly (before it dries) with a giant 20cm roller or use it to push out the air bubbles during magazine image transfer projects (Gel Printing 2 workshop). |
| 3. PAPER Copy paper is the simplest to find, the cheapest option of all the papers and yields pretty good results. Perfect for beginners, useful for clean-up and roll-off and works effectively on the plate. | If you do mostly dry pulling and love the look of a perfectly clean plate, then calligraphy paper is for you. We use this type of paper in all the workshops. The added bonus of calligraphy paper is that it collages so well due to the light weight and the slightly rough reverse side. |
| Tracing paper is perfect for detailed areas when using stencils on your plate. The thin paper can get in-between the stencil gaps and cleanly removes all the excess paint. Tracing paper prints are also fabulous for collage. |
| In the workshops we mainly use our hands to apply the paper to the plate, but if you need a little help with your smoothing, try a baren to get great contact between the paper and the paint (and to give your hands a rest). |
| In the workshops we use mostly Amsterdam acrylic paints in 120ml tubes. I buy big tubes as I print everyday and teach workshops. As you need a lot less paint than you think, buying smaller tubes for at-home use will save you money. A starter set is a perfect way to get range of colours in smaller 20ml tubes or if you think you will be printing often, and on bigger plates, then a set of 120 ml tubes is a great option (works out cheaper than buying them individually). |
| My preference is for Matte Medium...and very high quality gives the best results. |
| The better quality the inks, the better the colour and usability. I recommend either Pinata, Ranger by Tim Holtz or Copic Re-inkers. Buying a range of colours to start you off is a good way to save a few ¥. |
| POSCA markers are fabulous to use directly on the plate and for adding detail to your prints and collages after they are dry. Chalk pastels work well on the gel plate for transferring your drawings. I prefer to use good quality pastels for better pigmentation. Cheaper ones might work fine if you are OK with a more muddy palette. Give it a go and let me know what the results are. | Layering stencils is a perfect way to add dimension to your prints. Before learning how to make your own stencils (Gel Printing 3 workshop), why not have a go with some commercial ones. Good quality drawing pencils transfer to the gel plate much better than the cheaper versions, especially if you draw with pressure. |
FROM ¥100 Store
Crayons for transfer prints
Plastic table protector
Non-slip mat
Wet wipes, tissues and paper towels for clean up
Textural items (lunch mats, silicone mats, sponges)
FOR FREE
Textural items from food packaging
Cardboard
Bubble wrap
Anything you are about to throw away that is broken may have a potential use
Glossy magazines, flyers
Other free papers for printing on top or for roll-off
| Subscribers are ALWAYS the first to know when new classes launch. | |
HI THERE
I'm Victoria, the founder, designer and creator at Bikudesigns, a vintage kimono accessories brand in Tokyo, Japan.
On this blog I talk about all things sustainability, life in Japan, brands I love and chat about handmade business growth.
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