Stencil Marbling

Marbeled Vase with Flowers

OBJECTIVE:
Students will rediscover the ancient craft, named "EBRU" (cloud art), by 15th century Persian artists.
We know it today as "MARBLING".
Marbling is an art of instant transformation that enchants all ages.
Students will swirl and lift their very own designs onto paper or textiles, thus making a print.
There are many different ways to marble.
I have found this to be the cheapest, easiest and the best way to go-especially for the classroom.
Here are my five easy steps to marbling:

PROCEDURE:
Mix acrylic paint with water in a small container to a milk-like consistency.
(I use Liquitex in the tube)
Fill pan with 2-3 inches of liquid starch (1/2 gallon).
Drip paint GENTLY on top of starch, one color at a time. Limit colors to 3-5 for beginners.
Drag stick or object through paint to create patterns and designs-again, very GENTLY, as to not move the starch around.
Place paper or textile on top of starch for 3-5 seconds and SLOWLY lift and place print on newsprint, paint side up.
(Some times I dip the paper into a pan of water to remove excess starch)

MATERIALS:
Lots of newspaper (not shiny)
Large roasting pan or kitty litter tray
Thinned acrylic paint
Craft/Popsicle sticks for mixing
Small cups-Dixie or containers of any sort (I use baby food jars so I can save the mixed paint)
Liquid starch
Combs, pics, toothpicks, etc., for moving paint around
Paper or textiles

HINTS:
*Between prints place newspaper on top of starch to clear remaining paint-disregaurd
*Manila paper works good and is cheap, however I use BRISTOL-moderately priced at $4.50 per 25 sheets.
*I buy "LINIT' liquid starch from the supermarket- $2.59 per 1/2 gallon
*Bright colors work best
*When using fabric 100% cotton works best-wash first
*1 iron or laminate the dry prints for better displaying-they tend to curl up
*Sometimes the colors and/or the starch can be temperamental: be patient... thin the paint a little more, stir starch gently, don't give up.

Once you have the Marbling process down pat, you can try my "STENCIL MARBLING" (older students) or sometimes I have a lot of finished prints (from the younger students) and have found that "MARBLED VASE WITH FLOWERS" is a great way to utilize the prints. They make great Easter or Spring decorations and all ages enjoy doing the project. Here are the directions for both projects:

STENCIL MARBLING-Grades 6-12
After the desired print is swirled lay the stencil gently on top of the starch. Lay a larger piece of paper on top of that and gently pick up both papers and put face up on newsprint. Slowly lift the stencil up off the print and let dry. If students wish they may outline the stenciled design with a thin marker when print is dry. I like thin gold or silver paint markers.

MARBLED VASE WITH FLOWERS-Grades 4-12
On the back on a dry marbled print, draw a vase that uses most of the paper (special students or younger students may trace a vase template, older students usually do free hand or fold in half, draw and cut method). Students will then cut out vase and glue on to the bottom of a larger piece of white paper. They then draw 5-8 stems coming from the vase with markers or pencil. Leaves and flowers may be drawn in with marker and/or cut from the left over print and glued down. Details may be added if students desire.