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LEAFLET

505MarblingBy Sue Cook

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CONTENTS

Introduction and Contents

Simple Marbling

Marbling on Fabric

Traditional Marbling on Paper

Classic Patterns

Check List of Marbling Terms

Using Your Marbled Papers andFabrics

Other Objects to Marble

Modern materials have brought this ancient and beautiful artform up to date. It is now very straightforward and simple,with ready to use paints, and where necessary, easilyprepared size. Marbling is now far more accessible to anyone

wishing to try this compelling process. It is an immediate artform, where large areas can be covered quickly and theresults are always pleasing from the very first time you try,making it an encouraging and rewarding pastime.Marbling is simply the transference of floating colour from awater based liquid onto another surface, usually paper orfabric, but quite feasibly wax, wood or plaster.Modern colours are bright and cheery. Gold and silver tonesfor fabric add an exotic touch to items, while fluorescent andpearlised hues lend a fun and lively feel to marbled papers. Itis an enjoyable and very absorbing occupation that producesdelightful and useful results.The papers and fabrics can beused for decorating many items, which in turn are made moredesirable by their interesting patterns.

Each time you apply the colours to the bath, you are creatinga unique design, as it is impossible to recreate anotheridentical result, though many of the patterns can be copied.This is part of the charm inherent in marbling.

We have included the traditional method of seaweed marblingin this booklet, as it is still an important way to producestunning results.

Historical noteEarly marbled papers date back to 12th century Japan atleast, where the method was kept a secret. Gradually overthe next 400 years the secret spread to Turkey and fromthere, to Europe. Many of the patterns have Turkish andFrench names such as Get Gel and Nonpareil.

THE CHARM OF MARBLING

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SIMPLE MARBLINGThis is the least complicated of all the methods as thecolours are placed directly onto water. It is less controllablethan the thicker bath necessary for marbling on fabric butbright swirling patterns are easily produced in minutes. Thepaper requires no priming before use making it ideal for

newcomers as the spontaneity of results is inspirational.

You will need: -Tray of tap waterMarblin inks (inc. fluorescent and pearlised. NOTE:pearlised inks require fixative)PipettesA drinking strawA stylus/stickPaper

1. Cover your work surface with newspaper and assembleeverything you need.

2. Drop colours onto the water using the pipettes.

3. Move the colours around on the surface by blowing airthrough the straw, or moving the colours with a stylus.

4. Transfer the design by lowering a sheet of paper onto thesurface starting at one edge. This method will reduce thechance of air bubbles. Lift out the paper immediately andplace face down on newspaper to dry.

5. Skim the surface with the newspaper ready for the nexttime.

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The marbling on fabricmethod requires a specialthick bath that will allow thecolours to sit on the surface

of the liquid without sinking,as well as be fluid enough toform patterns. The coloursand marbling ground havebeen designed to becompatible so that optimumresults can be achieved.

The bath is easy to prepare

and the results shoulddelight you. The bath willimprove with use i.e. the firstfew attempts should beviewed as practise. After thatthe bath will be primed. It isa good idea to practise yourdesigns first before usingfabric. If you do not like a

pattern you have created,just skim the surface withnewspaper once more andcarry on. Skimming thesurface is important. Itbreaks the surface tensionand allows the colours to

spread. Be sure to skim justbefore applying colour eachtime. Tension will reformbetween one and two

minutes after skimming, sothis is the length of time youhave to create your design.

You will need: -

Marbling ground. (Size)

Warm water.

Mixing bucket.

Marbling tray.

Fashion Marbling colours.

Stylus.

Comb.

Washed cotton or silk fabric.

Newspaper.

Paper.

Ten step method to perfectmarbled fabrics.

1. Mix 50grams of marblingground with 2.5 litres ofwarm water to the

consistency of cream. NOTE:The marbling bath (size)needs to be prepared inadvance as it takes time tomature. If you can, mix theground with warm water andleave overnight. On hot daysthe bath will be readysooner. If you can still see

granules in the mixture itmay not be quite ready.

2. Cover your work areawith newspaper. If possibletry to work near a sink. Pourthe size into the marblingtray.

3. Colours can be squirtedfrom the bottles, or placed ina palette and applied with abrush or pipette. Assembleall the items you need formanipulating the colours,such as a comb and stylus.

4. Before applying anycolour to the bath, thesurface tension must bebroken by skimming it withnewspaper. Surface tension

reforms after a minute or so,and during this time youmust apply the colours andmanipulate them into yourdesign. To skim, draw thenewspaper carefully acrossthe surface of the size allover. To create furthermarbled items, you will need

to re-skimthe surface beforeapplying colour each time.

5. Drop your chosen colourson to the size.They willspread out across thesurface. Draw your combacross the surface invaryingdirections or manipulate the

colours with a stylus.

6. When you are satisfiedwith your design,(and beforethe surface tension reforms),transfer it to fabric or paper,lay it over the surface of the

MARBLING ON FABRIC

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colours starting at one end andgently lower it taking care not totrap air bubbles which willprevent the transfer of colour.With fabric, you may needsomeone to help you, lower the

fabric onto the colours andwatch for air bubbles.

7. Both paper and fabric can belifted off immediately.

8. Leave your wet fabric to drysomewhere flat. If you try towash the fabric while still wetsome colour bleeding may occur.

9. When the fabric is dry, it willbe crispy. This dried size caneasily be removed by washing inwater. Leave to dry after rinsing.

10. Wash paper immediately incold water and leave to dry.

NB: Natural fibres are best such as white silk or cotton.Wash out any dressing the fabric may have so that it can absorb the dyes properly. Ondarker fabrics the colours will be less apparent.

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TRADITIONAL MARBLING ON PAPER

The Seaweed MethodThis method gives the typicalswirling effect often seen inbook endpapers. It requires

the most fine-tuning of thethree methods described inthis booklet. The size ismade from Carragheenmoss, which must be slowlybrought to the boil and left tomature over night. The papermust be applied with amordant so that it can

receive the paint. The paintmust be mixed with waterand oxgall and tested on thebath. We describe the

process in brief, but pleaseread all the instructionsbefore starting.

You will need: -SaucepanHeat sourceTrough/plastic bath

Tray (for alum)Rubber glovesCarragheen moss7 litres cold water2 litres hot waterMoss size preservativeCombs, rakes, stylusNewspaperPaper

Muslin or old tights (forstraining)150ml Alum mordantGouache paints

OxgallPipettesJars/plastic cups for paintSinkBoard for rinsingSheet of wood for flatteningthe paper

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1. Make the size. Mix50grams of dried moss with5 litres of cold water. Placein a saucepan and slowlybring to the boil. Let themoss boil for 30 minutes,

stirring occasionally. Removefrom the heat and let themixture stand overnight tomature. The mixture shouldnow be a murky gelatinousconsistency. Add a further 2litres of warm water and50ml of moss sizepreservative. The addition of

preservative preventsbacteria forming within thesize. (If left unused for longerthan 2 weeks a layer ofmould may form on thesurface, this should beremoved before using thesize). Sieve the completemixture through muslin, oran old pair of tights, toremove all lumps andparticles. As Carragheenmoss works better whenslightly warmed, it may needgently re-heating each daybefore use. Approximatelyroom temperature is best.

Keep the container of sizecovered at all times toprevent dust settling on thesurface.

2. To prepare the paper you

wish to use, put 2 litres ofhot water in a tray bigenough to hold the paper.Stir in 150ml of alummordant until it hasdissolved. Mordant makesthe paper receptive to colour.When the mixture hascooled, lay a sheet of paper

on the surface. When theface down surface iscompletely wet (i.e. with noair bubbles to resist themordant), lift it out. Put yourtreated papers to one side ina well-ventilated area to dry.Press your papers under aflat weight, such as a sheetof wood, to flatten them.Keep all the alum sidesfacing the same way. Asalum can be a skin irritantwear rubber gloves whenapplying the mordant.

3. The gouache must bediluted with water and oxgall,and tested on the bath ofsize. Put approximately onetablespoon of gouache into ajar or plastic cup, add water

so that the consistencyresembles single cream.Using a pipette add twodrops of oxgall. Stir themixture thoroughly, skim thesize and drop some paintonto it. Observe whathappens. The paint shouldfloat on the surface and

spread to a 'stone'approximately 3 to 4 inchesacross. If it sinks addanother drop of oxgall, re-skim the surface and applyanother drop. If the circlepaint spreads too far the sizeis probably too thin, or thepaint contains too muchoxgall, adjust accordingly.Test all the paints in this way,individually, and then testtogether. Adjust the paintsuntil they work perfectly.

4. When you are ready to

marble, prepare your workarea: cover the floor withnewspaper; tear newspaperstrips ready for skimming;stack the mordanted papersnext to you, mordant side

down and covered withnewspaper so that theyremain clean; place yourprepared and stirred paintson the opposite side to thepapers; combs, rakes andstyluses should be placed atthe far end ready for action.

5. Before applying the paint,you must skim the surface ofthe size to break the surfacetension and remove anytraces of dust. Workingquickly, stir your paints thendrop colour onto the surface.Use the rakes and combs tocreate patterns.

6. Lower your paper, alumside down, gently onto thesize being careful not to trapany air. When the surface iscompletely covered withsizeand paint, lift the paper

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out being careful that it does not fold upon itself. Lay the paper on a board andrinse the size off. Leave to dry.

7. Skim the surface and continuemarbling.

8. Dry marbled papers can be flattenedwith a cool iron.

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1. GET GEL. On the longest side, draw the rake across thesurface from one side to the other and back again. On theshort side, do the same. Four strokes.

2. PEACOCK. From the Get Gel, wave the rake across thesurface in the direction of the last stroke. Five strokes.

CLASSIC PATTERNS

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3. NONPAREIL. From the Get Gel, draw the comb onceacross the bath. Five strokes.

4. BOUQUET. From the Nonpareil, draw the rake in a waveacross the surface in the same direction as the lastmovement. Six strokes.

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5. FRENCH CURL. From Nonpareil, lower the comb into thesurface of the size holding it parallel to you, pull it slightly tothe left and away from you, move it further back and to theright, then continue the circle back to the starting point. Liftout the comb and continue next to this row of circles untilyou have covered the whole area.

CHECKLIST OF MARBLING TERMS

Caragheen Moss.Irish moss used for size. It isin fact seaweed.

Comb.Item for making marblingpatterns with close togetherteeth.

Mordant.Chemical that allows a paperor wooden surface to bereceptive to paint.

Rake.Similar to comb but withteeth much farther apart.

Size.Thick mixture on whichcolours float. Made fromCarragheen moss, or

marbling ground.

SkimBreak the surface tension onthe size using newspaper sothat colours will spread.

OxgallBile from a cow that enablesthe paint to resist thesurface. Tension of the size

and other colours. (I.e. it willnot mix).

StylusImplement with single pointsuch as a cocktail stick,needle or wicking needle.

NOTE: If you are using a

rectangular bath, you willneed two combs, just slightlyshorter than each length.This is to avoid distortion ofthe pattern. Do not usecombs from fabric marblingfor a traditional bath.Theseaweed bath is easilycontaminated in this way.

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USING YOUR MARBLED OTHER OBJECTS TO MARBLE

PAPERS

1. Fold them into boxes ofall shapes and sizes,

(pyramids, obelisks,squares, etc), and putpresents in them.

2. Cover notebooks withthem

3. Frame your favouritesheets in a simple clip

frame.

4. Wrap presents with them.

5. Marble a piece of cardand use it as a clock face.

6. Use large marbled sheets

of paper as puppet theatrebackdrops.

7. Personalise your ownnotepaper with cut outshapes.

FABRICS

1. Marbled fabrics makebeautiful cushion covers.

Why not make a marbledpatchwork cushion?

2. Roll the edges and makeheadscarves.

3. Marbled fabrics lookstunning when made intolampshades.

4. Decorate a plain hat withlong strips of marbled silk.

5. Make fabric flowers andapply them to a hat.

6. Make blouses and tops

from your favourite pieces.

7. Thick cotton pieces canbe made into evening bags.

8. Use marbled fabrics forpuppet theatre curtains.

1. Plaster items can bedipped into the marbling

bath. White plaster absorbsthe dye easily and the effectis bright and effective.

2. Fat candles look goodwhen marbled. Try to avoidthin candles with a thickamount of colour, as it willsmother the flame when

alight.

3. Glass and china can bemarbled for decorativepurposes, though foodshould be kept away fromthem.

4. White card is ideal formarbling and it makesbeautiful greetings cards.

5. Pale wood can beeffectively marbled.You mayneed to apply alum mordantas with traditional marbling.

6. Cotton T-shirts are easilydecorated by marbling.

7. Ready made white silkties and scarves are easy tomarble and make idealpresents.

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Homecrafts are pleased to be able to offer you everything you'll need in the kits below!

Just click through to take a look!

Fashion Marbling Set

Marbling Starter Pack

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LEICESTER

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FAX: 0116 2697744

EMAIL: info@homecrafts.co.uk

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