Discover the joy of making prints—fast, fun, and totally accessible.
With simple tools and clear instruction, you’ll move from hesitant beginner to confident maker as you learn layering, color, texture, and image transfers.
You don’t need any skills—just curiosity and a willingness to play.
Gel printing is one of the most forgiving, freeing, and joy-filled creative practices you can start.
With just a plate, a brayer, and a few paints, you can make layered, textured prints that feel expressive, alive, and uniquely yours.
This course teaches you the foundational skills you need to experiment confidently and build a creative habit that sticks.
What You’ll Learn
Foundations: Tools, Paint, Paper & Confidence
Choose the right papers (copy, deli, tissue, mixed media) and understand how each behaves
Understand paint behavior: viscosity, open time, humidity, pressure
Work with simple tools to build early confidence
Color, Layers, Texture & Pattern
Use basic color theory to create harmonious prints
Work monochromatically to understand value and depth
Print with everyday textures like bubble wrap, tissue, string, combs, and mesh
Imagery, Projects & Creative Finishing
Create image transfers using charcoal, ballpoint pen, inkjet, and toner
Handle common transfer troubleshooting (patchiness, timing, adhesion)
Turn your prints into simple projects: collage, cards, mini books
Plus so much more!
What People Are Saying
“I found your videos and teaching method to be clear and easy to understand. I appreciate good teachers and you are definitely one!
I've been using gel printing for a couple of years but your lessons will make future prints so much better!”
— Tommye S.
“I so throughly enjoyed every minute of this class. I couldn’t wait for a new unit to be posted, watch it, and then play! Did everything go smoothly? No, but that is the learning process. I finally jumped some hurdles and now have the confidence to go forward and play and experiment more.
Truly, this is the best online class I have ever taken. Oh, and the live Q&A sessions were great. Thank you for a wonderful experience.”
— Carol S.
“You are an amazing teacher! I have learned so much from your materials and demos and know I will continue to experiment and see how I can use my gelli prints in collaging. Thank you!”
— Cathy S.
Live Events to Share and Connect
A private online community available to students 24/7 — ask questions, share prints, and celebrate our accomplishments!
Two live one hour Q&A sessions with Zenna, recorded for future reference.
Six-week workshop with video lessons released weekly with one studio work week.
Work at your own pace - all content is yours to keep forever.
More feedback…
Next session begins June 1, 2026.
Lesson and community lifetime access, work at your own pace.
Remember:
creativity isn’t a luxury — it’s a public health strategy.
Let’s take care of ourselves and each other!
FAQs
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The class is a hybrid model with lessons pre-recorded and released Mondays per the syllabus — and live Q&As spread out over the six weeks.
I have found that this allows for students to tune in on their own time and work at their own pace.
Q&As are held on Zoom and recorded and shared after the live event.
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📌 Monday February 2nd at 2-3pm Central.
📌 Friday February 27th, 2026 at 2-3pm Central.
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Absolutely! You’ll learn all you need to know to get started and expand your creative practice!
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Check your spam folder and then email me at zenna@zennajames.com.
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Check out the supply list here.
You really just need a gel plate, brayer, paper, acrylic paint and some basic household items to get started!
As you move through the class, you can decide what other supplies you may want to try out or buy.
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Nope! I will demo image transfers using these printers, but you can have images printed at a local copy shop, or skip the technique for now.
There are so many other techniques to learn too!
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Although we will not be primarily focused on fabric, all the techniques can transfer, even image transfer! I will give some tips for working on fabric along the way - I do warn that because we are using acrylic products, the hand of the fabric does change.
You might find this video on my YouTube channel helpful: https://youtu.be/yGslB9D84Po
There are a few more tips I'd include if I was filming now, but it's a good start.