Find instructions and tips below to help in your marbling practice
Water Based Marbling Colors
Mix color thoroughly in jar as settled pigment may be very dense. To 1 part color add 2 parts clean water and 1 drop of marbler’s oxgall. Test on well-skimmed size. Continue to add oxgall 1 drop at a time if color does not float or spread properly. For more intense color, add more concentrate a little at a time.
Oxgall
Add Oxgall to colors one drop at a time until they spread into circles two inches in diameter. Preserved in alcohol.
Keep tightly capped when not in use.
Sumifactant
Add Sumifactant to prepared inks one drop at a time until inks spread to a three-inch circle on un-thickened water.
Keep tightly capped.
Spirits of Soap
Place 1 tablespoon of Spirits of Soap into four ounces of clean water, stirring thoroughly. Apply with a mouth atomizer or fine spray bottle.
Alum
Add ¾ cup of aluminum sulfate crystals to one gallon of clean warm tap water. (3/8 cup to ½ gallon).
Dissolve completely. Always stir before using. If kept capped, this solution has an indefinite shelf-life.
To preserve the effectiveness of this product, place in an airtight container.
Carrageenan
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Broom Corn
Gather a small quantity of stalks into a bundle about 3/4 inch in diameter and tie each of the bundles together at the thicker end and again three quarters of the way down.
The top tie should be tight, while the lower tie is left loose so that it can be slid forward to adjust the flex of the whisk’s working end. Soak the completed whisks in warm water for several hours to remove residues that can disturb the colors.
Marbling Trays
Nancy’s Tips
Below are some things Nancy has learned along the way
On Colors and Chemicals:
Color is spreading too fast
It is possible that you have added too much oxgall at the beginning of your color mixing. Try to remix your color with the water, no additional oxgall.
If all the colors you are using are spreading too fast, this might be a problem with your carrageenan or your bath was incorrectly mixed. Remix, double checking your proportions.
Colors are not spreading well
Some colors are very sensitive to oxgall especially when applied directly to the thinned paint. So try to mix oxgall with a small amount of white, then add that to your color you want to apply. The white usually won’t overtake the color you are using but it will buffer the sensitive paints.
Dried Out Marbling Colors
It is not recommended to try to revive dry colors. You would have to grind or blend up the dried pigment and mix with small amounts of water until the desired consistency is achieved. This process often wastes a lot of the pigment so most people don’t put forth the effort to restore dried color. If you do try, alcohol is a wedding agent and sometimes that will help make the solution smoother, however, it may cause the color to fade.
Getting darker black
Really be sure that the pot is mixed before using. Use a fork, mix for a long time.
Apply black first. Then, each color will squeeze it together to get a darker result.
How to mimic the color Veridian
Chrome green light and Cobalt blue. Add 1 drop of blue to the chrome green until the desired color is achieved. This will be more opaque than the veridian was but it will be close. If you want a more blue teal, start with the blue and add drops of green.
Oxgall
This has a long shelf life. You may see chunky bits floating in the solution…just strain it. It does not affect the quality of the oxgall.
Applying Alum
If you are applying alum to a dry sheet, you can use a sponge. (If you are over-marbling, then use a spray bottle so you don’t scuff the underlying pattern and leave the sheet out to dry. A smaller droplet sprayer is better. Gently even out droplets with a brayer if needed.)
Hang for about an hour till no longer drippy, then you can stack in layers of 5 or more alum-ed sheets, and top with Davey board to help keep flat. Once finished, load up the davey board with a lot of weight to press the paper flat.
Irridescent / Glittery paper: Alum doesn’t stick well to the slippery surface so if you have room, spray/brush onto the paper surface and lay flat until you see it start to absorb into the sheet (it will take longer than usual) then stack.
The Bath
Skimming is SO important. Your finger should be down below the water line to ensure the color doesn’t sneak back out. Strips of newsprint are great for skimming to really ensure all of the color has been removed between designs.
Combing
To keep your patterns even, when you put the comb in on either side of the tank use your finger to guide the tool along the inside walls to ensure a straight comb line.
Drag Comb Pattern: Slowly drag with your finger under the comb to make a smooth pattern.