The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) will present Tracy Van Buskirk demonstrating gel printing technique on Wednesday, December 11, at 1:30 pm, in the lower meeting room of Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at the flagpole).

The demonstration is open to the public and admission is free.

Van Buskirk was born and raised in Connecticut and recently retired from a long career in finance. Her interests include horseback riding, hiking, reading, and art. She and her husband Peter have raised two kids and spend a lot of time up at their farmhouse on in mid-coast Maine.

Although not formally trained in art, Tracy has consistently made the creative process a part of her life, her journey taking her through watercolor, pottery, and jewelry making to block printing, mono-printing with gel plates, and acrylic painting.

Her linoleum block prints have been used for Newtown-centric events including two Newtown Arts Festival posters, the annual Friends of C.H. Bee Book Sale, the Newtown Bee Christmas cover art, and the NYFS Holiday Festival. Her work, which focuses primarily on the interaction between humans and nature, has also been shown in galleries in Maine and Connecticut.

Gel printing, a/k/a gelatin printing, is a form of monoprinting using a soft washable thick plate. The two major manufacturers are Gelli Arts and Gel Press. Artists can also make their own gel plates using recipes that can be found online.

The plate is not carved and can be used repeatedly over. Paint or ink is spread on the plate with a brayer. Objects can be placed on the plate as a stencil, or to impart texture.

Paper or fabric is pressed down on the plate to transfer the print. Not much pressure is needed.

The best results involve layering with different colors and textures to produce unique images. Images can also be transferred from photocopies or magazines onto the plate and then to paper.

The finished images can be used as standalone art pieces or in collage and mixed media.

Reservations are not needed for SCAN programs but additional information may be found at SCANart.org.