Rene Eisenbart - The Art of Paint Marbling

Table Youll want plenty of table space, as well as plastic to protect it. If youre working indoors, cover the floor with a sheet or cloth tarp, as wet plastic becomes slippery.

Protective clothing To avoid splattering yourself with paint as you marble, wear an apron or old clothing.

Marbling tray to hold your size. For small papers, I use a 1-inch-deep 13" x 18" heavy-duty aluminum baking tray. With a shallower tray, youll risk spilling carrageenan. I recommend painting the inside of your tray with a good-quality white acrylic paint made for metal. This will make your pattern easier to see and seals the tray against alum.

To make a tray for larger papers, I use American Easel wood panels, which Ive turned upside down, primed, and painted with white acrylic to seal any cracks.

Plastic trays to carry the painting to a rinsing vat. For oversized paper, I use a large plastic lid or a sheet of plexiglass or cardboard. Trays can also be used to hold paint jars.

ALUM SETUP

Measuring spoons

Plastic gloves

Marbling alum

Paper or cloth

Glass jar

Hot water

Sponge

Plastic tray

Spray bottle

CARRAGEENAN SETUP

Measuring cup and spoons

Carrageenan powder

Gallon jug

Blender

Cold water

PAINT MIXING

Acrylic paint

Surfactant: Marbling gall or wetting agent for balancing paint and patterning. For simplicity, Ill just call it gall.

Mixing spatula

4-ounce jars

Barrier cream for protecting your hands from paint (but not harsh chemicalswear gloves as well!)

PAINT APPLICATION

Broomstraw wand Grab a bundle of black plastic broom straw about as wide as a pencil and wrap it tightly with tape or rubber bands. This is used to stir the paint and apply drops of paint; you can also use eye droppers or pipettes .

PATTERN-MAKING

Chopsticks to cut the paint. If the stick is too skinny, it will slice through the paint without moving it.