Marbling Techniques: How to Create Traditional and Contemporary Designs on Paper and Fabric (Practical Craft Books) [Paperback]

Wendy Addison Medeiros (Author), Wendy A. Medieros (Author), Mitchell A. Medieros (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Practical Craft Books | Publication Date: October 1994

Begun in 15th-century Persia, marbling looks as mysterious as alchemy: the beautiful swirls and veins of color, familiar as elements in old bookbindings, seem to be based on some exotic, secret recipe. In fact, these designs are surprisingly simple to make with everday materials and utensils. "Marbling Techniques" is the essential full-color guide to this dazzling art, full of step-by-step illustrations, helpful tips and insider's knowledge about what you need for marbling, what papers and paints are recommended, and even how to make your own marbling tools. Soon you'll be creating familiar patterns like the Turkish Stone and the Peacock, marbling floral and other, more unusual motifs, and making your own magical spontaneous designs.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The ancient art of marbling--long confined to the endpapers of leather-bound books--is experiencing renewed interest among today's crafters. This nicely presented book covers all the basics of marbling paper and fabric, from making your own tools to working with various types of paints to setting up your workspace. The heart of the book explains the specifics of how to create seven basic marbling patterns and how to troubleshoot technical problems, plus ways to achieve seven specialty techniques, including marbling dimensional objects. The concluding section offers ideas for several projects incorporating marbling, as well as a brief explanation about going into business selling your marbled products.

From Booklist

The fifteenth-century Persians called marbling "cloud art." Its ethereal nickname comes as no surprise, since marbling was used primarily for decorating the flyleaves of important books. Now there are other purposes for this elegant craft, and practitioner Medeiros explores the practicalities as well as the how-to's of marbling. Everything is figured for a restricted budget; she warns about purchasing expensive whisks, for example, when bound-together broom straws will suffice. Even more impressive is her arsenal of techniques and suggestions; the step-by-step photographs and the remedies for common problems make both standard and special techniques easy to complete. Barbara Jacobs

Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823030059
• ISBN-13: 978-0823030057
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars all you need to have!, July 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Denham Springs, LA... USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marbling Techniques: How to Create Traditional and Contemporary Designs on Paper and Fabric (Practical Craft Books) (Paperback)

This is the best of information . all under one cover...supplier list extremely helpful.Reproductions and clear instructions were all I needed to encourage my interest in this ancient art. It's like receiving an apprenticeship to a well kept secret craft!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource...well worth it., July 8, 2007

By 

Divine Deals & Beyond (Chesapeake, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marbling Techniques: How to Create Traditional and Contemporary Designs on Paper and Fabric (Practical Craft Books) (Paperback)

I learned more from this particular book in the first 30 minutes of reading it, than I did from three other resources on Marbling. I found answers in this book, I couldn't find anywhere else. Great photos of completed works and very simplifed instructions. One section focuses entirely on Preparing to Marble, tools for marbling, set-up, and furthermore is sectioned off by acrylics, watercolor, oil paints and tempera paints. Another section focuses on, patterns, tech. problems, special techniques, marbling on fabrics and resources. I would recommend this book first and foremost before all others.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and readable, June 14, 2004

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Marbling Techniques: How to Create Traditional and Contemporary Designs on Paper and Fabric (Practical Craft Books) (Paperback)

This is a great introduction to paper marbling - the technique that produces those wonderful swirls, feathery patterns, and colored speckles on paper.

The book is divided very roughly into three parts. The first gives clear recipes and techniques for preparing the marbling media and paints, for choosing and preparing the paper or fabric, and for creating the patterns. The authors are sensitive to the needs of the home crafter, and generally avoid exotic materials and tools. The second part of the book is a visual catalog of marbled patterns with directions for making them yourself. The final section of the book suggests uses for the marbled paper or fabric - boxes, books, and lots of other applications.

This is a how-to book, so leaves without discussion of some topics. There's not a lot of historical discussion, even though marbling has been used for hundreds of years. It doesn't cover more advanced applications, including marbling the edges a book's block of pages. This is for the starting crafter, though, not for professionals or academicians.

This is an enjoyable intro to a very enjoyable craft. If you want to get started in marbling, I'd suggest starting here.

//wiredweird