Marbling is an ancient technique that alow to decorate every surface that's porous enough to take the paint.
Usually it's made on paper but it's possible to marble also fabric and three-dimensional items, for example wooden dishes or boxes and so on.
The basic concept is easy, is a tray there is a syrup-like liquid. On its surface are dripped diluted paints (oils, acrylics, watercolours).
The paints float and spread on the syrup surface. They can be moved and rearranged with combs and raks to form several different patterns, traditional like the one above, or improvised like the one below.
The theory is easy, the reality is all another story.
There are so many variables that can modify the results... for example:
- the chemical that's used to make the syrup can react differently with paper, fabric or wood.
- Every paint, oil, acrylic or watercolour, require a proper diluition
- The same paint can react differently depending on the colour (yellow does't behave like blue)
- The same colour from two brands can react differently (red from brand A doesn't behave like red from brand B)
- The same colour of the same brand behave differently depending on the lot.
- Air and liquids temperature affect the results.
- Results are affected also by the mordant used, which one and how much, the right amount is needed, too much or too little can make a big difference.
- And to add a silly variables, if the tray is a backing tray it can has a coating that prevent colours floating.
Now you can understand that marbling is not an easy task, a successful session is often preceded by hours of frustrating tests.
But when the right recipe is founded, all become awfully funny :)))
And since I've found my right recipe (at least for this session) I've marbled and marbled and marbled, both fabric and paper :)
The photo below shows just a small part of my marbled papers and fabrics, I've made more than a hundred pieces and today I'm going to try to marble bigger piece of fabric.
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