WELCOME!
Thanks for joining our special Marbling Experience.
In order to prepare for this workshop, you will need to do two steps ahead of time.
All of the supplies and instructions are in your kit.
1: Coat all of the paper in your kit and any additional fabric you want to use with Alum, a mordant. This should be done a few hours before to allow drying.
2: Prep the solution for marbling with the Methyl Cellulose or Carrageenan. This should be done the day before or a few hours before to allow settling.
I show how to do this in the video below as well as written instructions below.
“Marbling involves paint that is floated and manipulated on the surface of thickened water. By swirling the paint, students create a mesmerizing design that’s then transferred to paper as a permanent print. Like their makers, no two pieces are alike. This workshop promotes spontaneity with a little bit of paint and a little bit of magic.”
PRE WORKSHOP INSTRUCTIONS
FIRST, MORDANT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO MARBLE WITH ALUM.
(DO THIS THE DAY BEFORE OR A FEW HOURS BEFORE TO ALLOW DRYING)
The first step is to mordant your paper. Mordant means to coat a substrate with a compound that allows the marbling paint to connect with that substrate. Without mordant, the paint will not attach to the substrate. You should mordant (brush the paper that came with your kits) with the Alum solution. You can also mordant any fabric you have and want to marble. It helps to use hot water to dissolve the Alum and then mix the small slurry of the alum mixture into a larger bowl. Use plastic/disposable containers or bowls you do not eat out of.
How to prep the Mordant Solution: Alum
Dissolve 100 gram into 1 liter warm or hot water
Or, 1 cup in 1 gallon warm or hot water.
Start with less water to dissolve mixture into slurry.
For Fabric Marbling: Immerse fabric in solution until wet, wring out (do not rinse) and let air dry. Fabric will be ready to marble when dry, and it may be ironed before marbling. For Paper Marbling: Spray or sponge on the solution to lightly coat the paper. Let dry completely before marbling.
SECOND, Make the THICKENED Solution for marbling
(DO THIS THE DAY BEFORE OR A FEW HOURS BEFORE TO ALLOW SETTLING)
Methyl Cellulose
1 tablespoon per liter
4 tablespoons per gallon
OR
Carrageenan
2 tablespoons per gallon
You will need a container to mix in and a blender or a whisk. In order to float the fabric paints, the water needs to be thickened. Pour the warm water in the container and add a tablespoon of methyl cellulose per 1 L of water. Use boiled water if you live near the coast. Stir or whisk until the Methyl Cellulose is dissolved. Let sit 3-4 hours before use.
DAY of PREP
You will pour the Methyl Cellulose Mixture into the tray when it is mixed. You should have 1” covered inside the tray. Keep any extra in a nearby container. I would mix extra so that you can experiment and add water if needed.
If you have small plastic cups to mix the paint in, please bring to class. Also bring: teaspoon or tablespoon.
MARBLING PROCESS
MARBLING INSPIRATION
