Ebru Paper Marbling

Instructor: Kathleen Osterwise (please excuse the photography, I don’t have the proper equipment)

Description: Paper marbling is an ancient painting technique that has originated in several ​ cultures. The two most common techniques still used today are Ebru from Turkey, and Suminagashi from Japan. The technique consists of floating pigments, now most commonly acrylics, on a thickened substrate to design the image, and then laying unsized paper on top to pick up the paint, creating an original print. Ebru and Suminagashi prints have been used traditionally as the binding paper for the inside covers for hardback books, but may stand alone as individual pieces of art. It can even be used to marble fabrics. In this class, I will demonstrate the basics of both techniques, with an emphasis on Ebru and show how your prints can be cut and folded into gift boxes to package your beautiful lampwork jewelry.

How to Sign Up:

I have created a google sheets form to both sign up for the class and purchase the specially mixed inks and supplies. You may choose to purchase materials through me, or you may just watch, and you can use the list of materials below and the file that I will e­mail you to make your own pigments. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_QGbG1SEoanDsZSsj6xkyQHvZBJgBwYYF3WG7Nq THSY/edit?usp=sharing

Required Materials:

***Please bring paper towels and old newspapers to the class*** If you have paint brushes, or any of the materials not included in the basic kit, please bring them.

The best and most brilliant prints are made with the following materials:

­high pigment acrylic paints (not craft paints)

­ox gall

­water color paper

­alum and sponge or sponge brush (if not using watercolor paper)

­paint brushes, eye droppers

­bamboo whisk or similar spattering implement

­metal awl or pointed metal mandrel

­combs with even spacing between tines

­methylcellulose or carrageenan (substrate or “size”)

­pigment mixing bottles

­aluminum or plastic tray the dimensions of your paper

­water

­paper towels

­newspaper

­scissors or paper cutter, ruler, ball stylus, and folding tray ­ optional. I will bring these to show how to cut and fold the paper into gift boxes. also helpful: sink to rinse off extra sizing, drying area for prints; (can hang watercolor paper on a clothesline,) lay thicker papers on counter to dry.

The basic kit I am offering includes: ​

­ the 2 oz bottles of pre­mixed dropper bottle paints (red, yellow, green, blue, black, white) that have several drops of ox gall, but may need ox gall adjustment with experimentation.

­small bottle of additional ox gall to fine tune your pigments

­enough methylcellulose powder to make two additional batches of substrate

­2 disposable aluminum trays that can be re­used or replaced (one for printing, one to carry to rinse off excess size)

­disposable skewer for manipulating pigments

­1 wide tooth comb for marbling

­10 sheets of 6x6 bibulous paper (no size, very thick and porous) and 10 sheets of 8 X 10 perfect for making small boxes ( 2 sheets per box, enough to make 10 boxes) If you would like more paper, you will need to purchase watercolor paper from me, or bring it.

Payment Details ­ on the class sign up page are options to purchase paints that I will mix and ​ implements that I can purchase for you. You may choose to supply your own painting implements, paper, or some of your own supplies. I will be happy to share my supplies with you at the retreat if you do not wish to purchase them, but it may limit how many individuals can practice the technique at the retreat. Please do not feel like you have to purchase every one of the supplies if you have something already that can work. Most people have paint brushes that they can bring, and even maybe hair picks or wide tooth combs. Some may even have the watercolor paper, or aluminum trays.

What you order will be yours to use at the retreat and to continue to make Ebru prints at home. Please note, I will only charge you for my cost of materials and shipping to me. All payment should be made through paypal to Dionysis Designs: [email protected] ​

After you sign up for the class, I will send you an invoice for your order and request payment. I will have to wait to order the materials until after everyone has paid, or indicated that they will supply their own materials. Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for considering this class. I am very excited to share my knowledge, and I look forward to what all of you can do with it.

Contact Information:

Kathleen Osterwise

314­630­1645 [email protected]