How To Marble Paper
Step 1 – Mix the size
In paper marbling, colors/paints are floated on the surface of a thickened liquid called size. Size is made by adding a thickening agent to water like carrageenan or marbo gum – which are made from seaweed. Papers are prepared with a coating of alum.
Step 2 – Spread paint on surface
Using an eye dropper, or broomstraw, drop selected colors of paints on the surface of the size – either in an intended pattern, or randomly scattered across the surface.
Step 3 – Creating the pattern
Draw combs and rakes with different spacings of pins through the floating paint. Specific order and direction of the various rakes creates different patterns.
Step 4 – Printing pattern
Lay the alum-coated paper down – either from the center out, or top down – in one continuous movement. Any pause or jiggles will warp or fade the design. Each paper is one of a kind.
Step 5 – Clean size, repeat
Clean the size between each print with strips of newspaper. Repeat the marbling process until the size is exhausted.