Art Class: Botanical Monoprinting on the Gelli Plate

Discover the intuitive and joyful art of botanical monoprinting in this hands-on workshop. Using a flexible gelli plate, you will learn how to capture the delicate textures and intricate details of leaves, ferns, and grasses. This process allows you to create unique art prints without the need for a traditional printing press. Using a brayer to apply smooth, even layers of acrylic paint to the gelli plate, we'll press our botanical items into the plate, transferring textures and patterns onto the paper. Play with color theory, translucency, and layers.

Leaves and materials will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own botanical textures. Items will likely be destroyed in the process of printing, and need to be able to lie flat between two pieces of paper. Other items, like pine cones, will create a very neat texture that looks nothing like a pinecone - but very fun all the same!

This class is beginner-friendly and perfect for anyone looking to reconnect with their creative side. Whether you want to create framed art, unique greeting cards, or beautiful papers for collage and mixed media, this low-pressure environment encourages play and experimentation.

This class will take place at Swoon City. Our address is 1716 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107. It's at the intersection of 17th and NW Market Street - kitty corner from Mighty-O Donuts.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before class begins. Since these paints can stain, wear clothes that you wouldn't mind if they got a little splattered!

If you cannot attend class for any reason, we will offer an exchange to another class currently on our schedule up to 48 hours before the class. After that time, no refunds or exchanges are issued out of respect for our teachers who purchase and prepare supplies based on the number of attendees.

Our current masking protocol is that anyone attending an event can email us at [email protected] to let us know they prefer that people wear masks up to 72 hours before the event begins. Your request is anonymous to all the other participants.

Attendees will receive an email before the class to let them know If we will be requiring masks.

Hello, I’m Sara M. Hospador. I’ve been a Ballard resident since 1994, and I’m genuinely excited to connect with other creative people in the community and spend time making art together. I’m endlessly curious about new ways to be creative, especially when a medium blends art with a little science and history. Those intersections - where technique, experimentation, and curiosity meet - are what draw me in and keep me inspired.

I have a deep passion for color, pattern, and personal expression, along with a well-documented love of art supplies. For me, the joy of making art is as much about the process as it is about the finished piece. 

When I teach my goal is to create a welcoming, low-pressure environment where students feel comfortable experimenting. In previous classes, I’ve had students tell me at the start that they planned to simply observe and learn. Before long, they were fully engaged - confident in the process, taking creative risks, and having fun. By the end of class, those same students left with beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces and a sense of accomplishment they didn’t expect.

I believe creativity should be accessible, joyful, and a little messy. I’m excited to guide students through this meditative and playful art form and to help them discover what’s possible when curiosity leads the way.