Marbling is, in a sense, art created by science—specifically the fluid mechanics of surface tension. It involves dropping paints onto a thickened water mixture, called “size,ˮ where surface tension lets the colors float and spread freely.
These paints are manipulated with tools to form patterns. Fabric thatʼs been treated with a mordant, which makes the fibers receptive to pigment, is lowered onto the design. Attracted by the mordant, the design transfers to the fabric immediately. |
Creating each piece takes more than a dozen steps over the course of several days. Each design is absolutely unique, and cannot be exactly duplicated.
The process is somewhat capricious, and the results obtained depend on factors that include the temperature of the studio, the consistency of the paints and size, and the texture of the fabric being used. This unpredictability is one of its attractions - itʼs always exciting to see what emerges from the marbling tray! |
I marble each each piece by hand, using non-toxic water based acrylic paint, and mix my own colors, always searching for a warmer mango, richer cranberry, or livelier lapis. My work includes a variety of techniques:
Predyeing - Dyeing the fabric before marbling yields more intense tones, and also creates color shifts like the classic “yellow plus blue make green,ˮ seen below.
|
Monochrome Designs - These pieces are dyed before marbling, and I build upon the color of the dye to create textural patterns in a single color.
|