15_Robert's Paper Marbling Tutorial 101
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Today we're going to be tackling
a simplified version of a craft,
that is literally hundreds of years old.
But thanks to some modern materials
it couldn't be easier.
We are going to be doing paper marbling.
And if you like the look of today's project,
I want to invite you to subscribe to my own channel
for more great DIY's
by following the link in the video description below.
Long before paper marbling was practiced
in the western world
Japanese masters were perfecting their own version
called "Suminagashi".
And there are suminagashi inks that are
now available, made by modern manufacturers
and they flow directly on the surface of the water
allowing you to lay down a piece of paper
and capture whatever beautiful swirling designs
you have created.
The inks are relatively inexpensive
and I have included sources in links
in video description below.
The first thing you need to start
is a shallow tray
I am using what's called a butcher's tray
from the craft store,
although you can just as easily substitute
a dish pan or even a 9 by 13 baking dish.
And then you want to fill it half way to
two - thirds full of water.
Next, we'll select two of our ink colours
and place 5 drops of each
into 2 separate compartments of a paint palette.
Take 2 brushes, place them into the ink
allowing it to soak up into the bristles.
Next, take one of your brushes
and just lightly touch the surface of the water.
Immediately, you see the ink spread
all over the surface.
Then take your other brush
and touch that in the center,
you'll see that colour spread out as well.
Alternate back and forth between the 2 brushes
and you began to see a pattern of
concentric rings build up.
Do this until you feel that the ink
is about to run out
and then we'll go back to the paint palette
and reload the brushes.
You can make the pattern as large as you'd like
and then one way to manipulate the ink
on the surface of the water,
is to take 1 paint brush
and drag it through the surface.
I'm gonna do this dragging up from an outer ring
towards the center
at regular intervals around the circle
until I create a pattern that I like.
Now, we wanna capture this on paper.
There are several great types of paper
that you can use for this project
but when you're first starting out
I found that white construction paper
works beautifully.
Take a single sheet,
slide it up over the edge of the tray
and gently lay it on the surface of the water.
Immediately you will see the patterns
soak up into the paper
let it set for 3 - 5 seconds,
lift it up,
allow some of that excess water to drip off,
and then place it down on paper towels.
Block the surface dry.