Gelatos from Faber-Castell are something completely different to all the other inks that I own. They come in a lipstick-like crayon stick format. For these tests I used the plain colour Pistachio and the metallic colour Gold Champagne Gelatos.
(Please note that this ink was included in the original test documents from the Playing with Inks range, and the results documented in the downloadable table)
Let’s see what the properties of Gelatos will permit us to do:
The Faber-Castell website states that Gelatos are watercolour chalks that can be applied to a variety of different surfaces like paper, fabric, canvas and wood thanks to their creamy, smooth consistency. They are vibrant pigment sticks that are water-soluble. They are odorless and permanent when dry. From this information we are sure that they are water-based pigment inks.
As I mentioned, they only come in a convenient, lipstick-like stick. The collection of 80 colours available includes (among others) metallic and iridescent colours. The small size makes it ideal for easy storage and transportation of many different colours at once.
Stamping with Gelatos:
I stamp with Gelatos by wetting the stamp and then colouring over the stamp with the crayon-like stick and then stamping with it. I did try mixing some of the pigment with water and applying it to the stamp with a blending tool like I did with some of the other liquid inks, but this method did not seem to work with the Gelatos.
The stamped image for both the normal colour and the metallic colour turned out better than I expected. The images were not solid, more distressed. The colour was not even as it is difficult to spread it evenly with the crayon. The metallic ink gave a shiny image.
When dried, the stamped image of the Pistachio (normal colour) was only affected slightly be painting water over it. The alcohol did not affect it at all. The image stamped with Gold Champagne (metallic colour) was almost removed completely by the water and the alcohol moved some of the metallic pigment.
Each dried stamped image was painted over with water on the the left and alcohol on the right:
This is a pigment ink, so both colours show up on the dark background as expected.
I could stamp on the glossy photo paper, but the Gelatos smudged and was easily moved on this paper. I will not recommend you use it to stamp on glossy surfaces.
Other uses for Gelatos:
Gelatos are water-based and perfect inks to use as watercolour-type paint. It is also very convenient as you can take your water brush and pick up the colour straight from the stick to paint!
If you scratch with the Gelato on a craft sheet, you will have enough pigment on the sheet to mix with water and create beautiful splats.
Both the normal colour and the metallic version can be used to colour gel medium and gesso successfully. The metallic shine is seen in the gel medium, but not in the gesso.
The creamy consistency of Gelatos makes them very successful in the area of “moving” on paper. They worked very well for blending, chalking and stenciling.
Blending:
Chalked page edges:
Stencilling:
I was very surprised that I could use it to heat emboss! The downside was that the stamped images were not solid and so the heat embossing lost a lot of its impact. I will however give these little sticks a thumbs-up for heat embossing.
Pistachio
Gold Champagne
My Conclusions about Gelatos:
My favourite way to use these little sticks is as mobile watercolours. I also like to colour my gels and pastes with Gelatos. I have found that when I use them dry and not add water at all, they tend to smudge easily. So I make sure to mix them with a little water.
Gelatos have their place in our ink universe. Go and play with yours to discover what else they can do!
PLEASE NOTE: All the opinions are my own. None of the products have been sponsored.