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From the Publisher

The Art of Paint Marbling

Tips, techniques, and step-by-step instructions for creating colorful marbled art on paper

Joy of Marbling

The thrill of marbling is in the discovery and sometimes unpredictability of the process. Explore a few approaches to discover what you like, and you’ll soon amaze yourself with the gorgeous marbled paintings that you’ve created. Once you are set up and have learned the steps, the process is easy with immediate results—almost like magic. Be forewarned that marbling is seductive and can even be addictive! When you see what is possible, you’ll want to do it again and again, each time trying some new variation.

So, put on your old clothes and let the paint fly.

Spanish Wave: The technique for the Spanish wave is all in the printing.

Start by making a pattern. Here I’ve used it to print the Italian vein.

To make waves, hold the paper very tightly in diagonal corners using both of your thumbs and index fingers, placing your left hand (at the bottom) all the way to the size while holding the right hand (top corner) high above the tray. Rhythmically and slowly move your left hand in 1-inch counter-clockwise circles while gradually lowering the right hand. Each circle will produce a wave.

Continue to make waves and lower your paper until it is completely on the surface. If you’re left-handed, reverse the directions. While this effect may require practice to master, it is worth the effort. Doing a dry run of your technique with paper before you actually print over size can help.

The waves will go straight across if your paper stays flat or becomes curvy if your paper is wrinkly or bends and some areas touch before others, like mine.

Troubleshooting: What Can Go Wrong…and How to Fix It

Bubble or Ring

A pocket of air between the paper and size when printing will leave a blank spot on your paper or a skip in the pattern. This is quite common and can be fixed by cropping if it is near the edge, or by painting or collaging over the blemish. To avoid introducing air during the print process, make sure your paper is very flat (press it overnight with a weight if it isn’t) and review your printing technique so that you won’t trap air.

Sinking Paint

Sometimes, instead of spreading, the paint condenses and sends a funnel to the bottom. This often happens if paint has been left on the size and you apply more paint. Stop, print what you have, skim the size, and start over with a fresh pattern. If the paint still sinks, apply that color sooner, or try thinning with water or gall water. Warm size may fail, so avoid direct sunlight. Refrigerate size overnight to extend its life.

Paint “Crazes”

Too much alum in your size will cause the paint to break into straight-edged, shard-like shapes. Make sure the strength of your alum is appropriate for the surface, and pull your paper away from the marbling tray after printing so that extra alum doesn’t drip back into the size along with the carrageenan. Use paper with heavy alum later in the session. Try absorbing the alum by skimming with newspaper. Excessive minerals can also cause crazing; try using distilled water.

Voids in the Pattern

This happens when a wet finger or drop of size touches the paper before printing. Once the surface is wet, marbling paint won’t stick. You might get a void because the alum solution misses an area and the pattern washes away. When applying alum, check your paper in the light to make sure the whole sheet is shiny wet with solution, and then keep unprinted paper protected and dry until you need it.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walter Foster Publishing; Illustrated edition (March 9, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 160058876X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1600588761
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.8 x 0.45 x 11.6 inches