Marbled Paper

Students in English 460, Fall 2021, split into two groups to visit BookLab for an overview of writing technologies and to experiment with techniques to make marbled paper. Workshop was based on this model from Oh So Beautiful Paper

Materials:

• 100% cotton paper

• Alum

• Methocel

• Spray bottle

• Measuring spoons

• Whisk

• Dish soap

• Large shallow trays or cake pans

• Bucket or large bowl (must have a capacity greater than one gallon)

• Acrylic paint

• Small cups

• Coffee straws

• Drying racks + clothespins

• Bucket of clean water or faucet to rinse

Prior to the workshop, I prepared the paper. I marked what would become the "back" of the sheets. Then, I filled a spray bottle with warm water,  added 2 tablespoons of alum, and mixed well. After  the mixture cooled, I sprayed a thin layer onto the "front" of each sheet of cotton paper, and laid it flat to dry. 

For the workshop itself:

At least an hour before the session, prepare  the water bath: 

In a bucket, mix 4 tablespoons of Methocel with 1 gallon warm, distilled water, and one tablespoon of ammonia. Mix with a whisk. Use a shallow tray that is just a little larger than your paper; I used 13"x9"x2" pans and we had to share, but  there are disposable options as well. Pour water mixture into shallow dish and let sit until all bubbles are gone! This can take a while, sometimes an hour or so. 

Before you begin, make dispersant: To mix a dispersant, fill a cup with ½ cup water and a few drops of dish soap, and mix.

Mix your paints: Select a few colors of acrylic paints and squeeze them into cups. Add water to each color until you have the consistency of whole milk. Use a coffee straw to add one drop of dispersant/dish soap mixture to each color of paint.  Mix.

Add paint to water bath: Use coffee straws to add diluted paint to the water bath. Begin to drop paint onto the surface of the water bath. Keep dropping paint onto the water bath until it is pretty well covered with color. 

Marble: Take a clean straw and begin to drag it across the top of the water bath to create designs. You can also use the dispersant mixture you made to move the paint around, but only use a small drop to start. A little goes a LONG way.

"Print": Once you have a design that you like, take your prepped paper and gently lay it face down on the top of the bath. (Make sure you are placing the paper, prepped side down). Pat it down to make sure there are no air bubbles and then pull the paper up out of the bath starting with one corner and peeling it all the way up.

Rinse paper with water. Don't be afraid to get in there and clean the paper off with your hands. The paint is there to stay. Hang paper to dry.