Last year, I discovered the wonders of marbling with Freya at
Paperwilds at her studio in Bermondsey. Recently, I attended a new session where I learnt more advanced marbling designs and practised previous techniques from the introduction to marbling session.
I arrived at the workshop uncharacteristically late because I decided to bike to the studio on my bike and promptly got lost somewhere on the Elephant and Castle roundabout! Thankfully, everybody was only just starting to mix some gouache colours in pots so I was able to get stuck in quickly!
Unfortunately, my first few marbling papers were a bit naff! After chatting with Freya she tells me 'the marbling gods are fickle beasts' and not to be too disappointed. Luckily, I found my flow again with a new technique called the 'wave'. To create this effect you move the paper backwards and forwards slightly as you place the paper onto the marble bath. This creates ridges or lines in the colour which create a wave effect.
As ever, Ludo the studio dog chilled out and was most placid and relaxed dog EVER! He occasionally did a bit of yoga and moved to the next sunny spot of the studio throughout the day.
Here are the classes marbling drying on the racks in the warm sunshine.
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| The 'fern' |
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| The 'fern' |
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| 'Non-pariel' with a final pink layer |
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| The 'shell' or 'peacock' |
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| The 'American' (combination of Non-pareil and Gelgit) |
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| The 'American' (combination of Non-pareil and Gelgit) |
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| The 'wave' created by lifting the gouache in a stop-start rocking motion |
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| The 'wave' |
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| The 'wave' |
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| The 'wave' |
I thoroughly enjoyed the advanced marbling workshop with Freya (and Ludo). I can see more marbling workshops in my future.
Just in case you wondered about what happened to my first lot of marbling. I finished making these delightful little sketchbooks for friends and family. I only have a few left, so I definitely needed a new supply of marbling paper to make new ones!
