EBRU: THE ANCIENT ART OF PAPER MARBLING

In recent years, internet videos of artists creating stunning paintings by dripping paint onto water and swirling it around have become quite popular. This unique and beautiful art form is far from new, however. In this article, we look at the history and use of this painting technique - sometimes called Turkish Marbling, though it is popular in many countries - as well as some tips on creating your own beautiful paintings in this elusive medium. Have an original Ebru painting? Visit our Artwork Scanning and Fine Art Prints service pages to order prints of your own lovely artwork.

SUMMARY HISTORY PROCESS OUR SERVICES The paper marbling art known as Ebru began in Turkey in the 15th century. Natural compounds are mixed with water and paint to create the viscosity needed for the paint to be manipulated by the artist We offer Artwork Scanning, Fine Art Printing, and Framing services for your original Ebru paintings.

HISTORY OF PAPER MARBLING

References to paper marbling techniques are believed to be found as far back as the 10th century. In the 12th century, the Japanese art of Suminagashi, or "ink floating" was developed. Black and indigo ink would be dripped onto the surface of the water and then blown on to spread the ink into smoke-like patterns. Other artists would apply the sumi-ink to paper and then submerge it in water, creating patters as the ink lifted from the paper. A separate arm of paper marbling (and the one from which Western marbling was born) is called Ebru or Turkish Marbling, and originated in the 15th century in Turkey, Persia, and India. The origin of the name is uncertain; it may come from "ebri" which means cloud, or "abru", which means water surface. By thickening the water onto which the paint was placed, the artist was able to manipulate the paint on the water's surface, creating intricate, multicolored designs, which would then be transferred to paper. The style was passed down from mentor to apprentice, and though it originated as a decorative backdrop to written works, in time the paper became art in its own right. By the 17th century, paper marbling gained recognition throughout Europe, and the beautiful papers were widely used as endpapers in hand-bound books. Despite the relative secrecy of the technique, in 1853, a book about Marbling was published, which diminished its esoteric nature. Soon after, more books on the subject were published, and the style saw a surge of popularity until hand binding of books was replaced by binding machines. With this invention, paper marbling was largely forgotten in the Western world, though its popularity continued unabated in the East. In the 1970s, some Western artists again began working in the style. This resurgence was due in part to artists seeking further afield for art forms, and in part to the growing popularity of handmade books. The journal "Ink and Gall" was published in the USA from 1987 to 1993, and was dedicated to the process. The International Marbler's Gathering, sponsored by the publication, was first held in 1989 in New Mexico, and appears to still be an annual event.

A 1753 French book featuring marbled endpaper, likely shipped from Turkey or Persia.

TURKISH MARBLING PROCESS

The water is placed in a wide, flat tray to a depth of about 2-1/2 inches. The size of the tray is dependent on the size of the paper onto which the painting will later be transferred. In order to give the water the viscosity necessary for the paints to float and be manipulated, it is mixed with powdered or flaked tragacanth, a gum-like dried sap taken from a Middle Eastern legume plant. Colored pigments are ground into powder and placed in separate dishes. They are mixed with water and boiled ox bile. The addition of the oily bile, combined with the viscosity of the water mixture, allow the paint to float on the surface water's, spreading out into circles the width of which depend on the amount of paint. Drops of paint are applied with horsehair bristle brushes, and can be placed anywhere on the surface of the water. A different color can be placed within the circle of the first, which will cause the original circle to spread out more as the second color settles. Once the drops are applied, a tool similar to a thick needles is dragged through the paint. This pulls the paint in the direction of the gesture, and due to its thickness, it will remain in the position once the needle is removed. When the desired design is complete, a sheet of absorbent paper is gently placed over the water. When left for a few moments and gently tapped and pressed to ensure complete adherence, the paper absorbs the pigments which float on the surface, transferring the identical image to the paper. The paper is carefully removed and left to dry. The water mixture can be reused hundreds of times. Eventually, the paints may become grainy when placed in the water, and addition of pigments mixed with a different bile are placed into the water to counteract the ox bile. The result is a final marbled art called "Sand Marbling" or "Fishbone Marbling."

A marbled endpaper from a book published in Scotland in 1843. Paper likely shipped from Turkey or Persia.

KEENART MEDIA'S RELATED SERVICES

If you enjoy creating Ebru artworks, or have some originals from a recent trip, we can help get your art from filed to displayed. Use our Artwork Scanning service to have your Ebru painting professionally scanned as a 300 or 600 dpi TIFF file. This scan will enable you to recreate your painting up to three times the size of the original. Our Fine Art Prints are printed on top quality Hahnemuhle brand archival papers using Giclée inks and professional Epson ink jet printers. We have a vast selection of Picture Frame Mouldings (over 500!) as well as mats and your choice of high quality plexiglass and backing. Looking for something a bit different? We can print your Ebru painting onto canvas. Our Giclée Canvas Prints are archival, and stretched on custom-made pine stretcher bars in your choice of depth: 3/4" or 1-1/2".

An Ebru painting, framed and matted

If you have any questions about any of the products or services offered here at KeenART Media, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our knowledgeable staff are always happy to answer your enquiries and provide suggestions or advice. Want to see some great examples of Turkish marbling? Check out our Pinterest Page! Research done with the assistance of Turkishculture.org.