A 2-Part Gel Plate Printmaking Course Inspired by Wet Cyanotypes
Create layered botanical artworks using gel plate printing, coffee-dyed papers, natural textures, and luminous resin finishes.
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I've always been a little obsessed with the way wet cyanotypes look.
That deep, almost midnight blue. Plants suspended in it, like they're still alive. There's a quietness to them that I find hard to describe, but immediately recognisable.
For a long time I wondered if I could recreate that feeling through gel plate printing.
Not copy the process exactly, but capture the atmosphere. The moodiness. The sense that something organic had been caught mid-breath.
Midnight Botanicals is what happened when I tried.
Maybe you already love gel plate printing.
You've made beautiful prints. You enjoy the process, the unpredictability, the way a leaf leaves its ghost on the page. But somewhere along the way, you've started wondering what comes next.
How do you take a print you love and turn it into something finished?
Something you'd hang on a wall, or feel genuinely proud to sell?
That's exactly what this course answers.
Here's what we make together.
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We start simply.
Coffee-dyed papers, natural leaves, acrylic paint, and water. We work quickly and intuitively, building up layers of texture and atmosphere, letting the process lead.
Then we go further.
We add gold leaf. We mount our prints onto wooden cradle boards. We refine, we layer, we balance.
And then comes resin!
And honestly, that moment still gets me every time! The surface turns glassy. The colours deepen. The whole piece seems to glow from within.
What started as a gel plate print becomes a gallery-ready artwork.
What's Inside the Course
Part One: Creating Your Botanical Prints
Lesson 1: Textured Coffee-Dyed Papers
The foundation of everything. I'll show you my ironing technique that creates beautifully aged, atmospheric papers — including a happy accident you'll want to use every time.
Lesson 2: Your First Wet Cyanotype-Inspired Print
We pick up the gel plate and start layering. Colour, water, gold pigment, mark-making. Some prints will work, some won't — and that's entirely the point.
Lesson 3: Wet Strength Tissue & Layered Printing
A different approach with wonderfully unpredictable results. We explore gilding paste, gold leaf, and how layering builds real depth and atmosphere.
Lesson 4: Gold Leaf & Selecting Your Best Prints
We add the first touches of gold, seal the work, and choose the pieces that are ready to take further.
Part Two: Turning Prints into Finished Artwork
Lesson 5: Mounting onto Wooden Panels
Compositions selected, prints glued down, panels prepared. This is where things start to feel real.
Lesson 6: Refining with Paint
Fresh eyes, subtle adjustments. This is where good pieces become great ones.
Lesson 7: Gilding Paste, Gold Leaf & Final Details
The finishing touches — gilding paste, stencils, fine metallic pen work. One of my favourite parts of the whole process.
Lesson 8: Preparing & Sealing for Resin
Preparation is everything before resin. I'll show you exactly how to get it right.
Lesson 9: Applying Resin
Measuring, mixing, pouring, spreading. I'll walk you through every step so you feel calm and confident..
Lesson 10: The Big Reveal
We remove the tape, clean the edges, and see the finished pieces for the first time
Students’ testimonials
Why Resin?
I know resin can feel daunting if you've never used it before. I felt the same.
But once you understand it, it's one of the most rewarding materials I've ever worked with.
- It deepens colour.
- It enhances contrast.
- It catches light in a way that nothing else does.
- It takes a print you already love and makes it luminous.
I'll walk you through every single step. You don't need any prior experience, just a willingness to try.
Access Options
Choose the path that feels right for you.
There are two ways to work with me, and honestly both are lovely, it just depends on how you like to learn.
100% Money Back Guarantee
Enhance your confidence with our 7-day Money-Back Guarantee, starting from the commencement of the course, if you have watched less than 25% of the content.
This Course is For You If...
♥︎ You love gel plate printing and want to know what comes next
♥︎ You've always wanted to try resin but never quite known where to start
♥︎ You enjoy botanical art, natural textures, and working in layers
♥︎ You want to make work that feels finished, not just practised
♥︎ You like to learn at your own pace, in your own time, in your own space
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No perfection required.
Just curiosity and a willingness to let the work surprise you
Your Supplies
You don’t need anything complicated to get started.
You’ll be working with:
- Gel plate + brayer
- Acrylic paints
- Coffee + water
- Natural leaves
- Paper + wet strength tissue
- Basic tools for cutting and composition
- Wooden panels
- Gold leaf + pens
- Resin + simple mixing tools
A full detailed supply list is included inside the course.
Who is Susan McCreevy?
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Hi! I'm Susan McCreevy! And I will be your guide!
I’m an artist based in Inverness, working from my studio at Wasps Creative Academy. With a background in Textile Design & Printmaking, my journey has taken me from London’s design world to creating art inspired by nature’s serene blues, teals, and golds.
I specialize in blending printmaking and collage techniques to craft unique, textured pieces. Sharing my work and teaching others has been a joy, connecting me with creatives from all over the world.
I can’t wait to guide you through this course and help you turn your prints into beautiful finished pieces of art that you will be proud to hang in your home or sell.
"I created Midnight Botanicals because I wanted to see how far I could push this process." — Susan McCreevy
What started as an experiment became one of my favourite series. And now I want to share every part of it with you, from the very first coffee-stained sheet of paper to the moment the resin sets and the whole thing comes alive.
Come and create with me.
Join me today. Immediate access.
ENROL NOW
