Water Marbled Paper

Step 1 set up your workspace.

Water marbled paper. If you decide to do this with your kids choose the shaving cream and food color method as it is. It is creative and easy so they can participate and get engaged. Using a number of simple tools combs complex and evocative compositions can be created. Make sure the paper.

Mix the marbleizing solution in a bowl combine 1 2 cup of methyl cellulose with 4 quarts cold water whisking to incorporate powder. To put it simply water marbling is the process of floating layers of color on the surface of water then applying something in this case paper to absorb that color along with its unique pattern. Paper marbling is a method of aqueous surface design which can produce patterns similar to smooth marble or other kinds of stone. To make enough alum for several dozen sheets of paper stir 1 tbsp.

A clothesline or drying rackstep 2 mix alum and warm water optional. The tools and materials used for paper marbling are relatively simple. Pour the liquid into an empty pan. As you can tell from our video below the paint dries almost immediately onto the paper.

When the mixture is free of lumps let it sit about an hour stirring at 15 minute intervals until it is syrupy. Making marbled paper is a great activity for you to do with your kids. A second tray or bucket larger than your paper filled with water. The patterns are the result of color floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size and then carefully transferred to an absorbent surface such as paper or fabric.

Set aside on top of your parchment paper or newspaper to dry. The resulting patterns recall marble or stone veining. Remove and pat dry with a paper towel. Depending on what kind of paint you use it may be necessary to add something to thicken the water.

Alum is a mordant meaning it causes color to set on the paper. A watertight tray is filled with a substance that will hold the ink on the surface. Then take the non brush end of the paint brush to push the inks around the water in a pattern. One tray larger than your paper with raised edges.

Lay down newspaper over a large work table and the floor around it. Add your watercolor paper down on the water rough end we cut our paper to a size that fit our pan fully submerging to capture all the paint onto the paper. Without it the marbling will be faint and blurry. If it s too thick the paper will push away the pigment when you gently lay your sheet onto the pigmented water.

Step 3 carefully place your paper on the surface of the water. This art form allows you to design and create decorations from oil paints floating on water. Water will do this but to control the marbling effectively something more viscous. You should also opt for an uncoated paper coated papers won t absorb any pigment.