Marbling with Stencils

 If you delight in getting unpredictable results, as I do, then this is a technique to try!

http://www.interweavestore.com/marbled-fabric-surface-design-dvd , which I learned about from my friend Mary Ann Russo, goes into depth on the topic of floating stencils on the surface of marbling liquid to create a combination stencil-and-marbled look on pieces of fabric. 

I'm not into fabric arts, but I tried this idea on printing papers -- the type of paper recommended in this short online video --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J410yQ7PI1E   Please DO watch this short video, for complete directions.  I haven't included every detailed step in the photo captions below, but it all comes together once you see the video.

That recommended paper, copperplate paper, is a type of printmaking paper which can be found here (and is also available elsewhere):

http://www.dickblick.com/products/copperplate-paper/

And the marbling inks, Boku-Undo, can be found here:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/aitoh-boku-undo-suminagashi-marbling-kit/

The reason I went with this particular marbling process -- over the many others out there -- was (1) there is no need to prepare a special kind of floating liquid and (2) there is no need to clean stencils afterward.  That makes for quick preparation and quick clean-up -- leaving more time for having fun!

This method uses plain water as the liquid upon which the marbling inks float.  

I started with Maria McGuire's beautiful 6"X6" Stitch a Doily stencil ...

Maria's doily stencil created the above design.

... and the other stencils at work in today's post are mine: my 6"X 6" stencil Kaleid -- as well as Two Fans (9" x 12") and Osprey Wings (6" x 6").

Above in this close-up of water in a foil basis, the floating blue and green inks are swirling together.  These trails of ink have been added by brush tips dipped in the inks -- reminder:  the Blick video cited above shows how to add the inks to the water.  

 After these inks have been added, the next steo, shown below, is to GENTLY float a stencil on the surface of the water:

The above shot shows Maria McGuire's doily stencil floating on the water in the basin.




The following step:  Place the paper gently atop the water's surface, sandwiching the stencil between the paper and the floating inks.  In the above shot, you see the paper from its bottom while its "face" is downward, resting on the floating stencil and the inked water under the stencil.  

Next, the paper is lifted off the water, turned over to be face-side up, and set aside on a flat surface to dry -- and that's all there is to it!

Above:  This print was made with my 9"X 12" stencil Two Fans.

Above is a marbled print using my 6"X 6" stencil Kaleid.

Above is a marbled print using my 6"x 6" stencil Osprey Wings.

Above is a close-up of one of the osprey wings.  Click on any of the above images to enlarge them.

2 CAUTIONS:   (1) It works best to use fresh, dry stencils for each and every dip.  Wet stencils don't float as well on the surface of the water.  So have a lot of stencils at hand! (2) As soon as the paper gets saturated -- a matter of seconds -- immediately lift it from the surface of the water.  Long soaks are not needed, and they tend to disrupt the stencil design.

To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.  Thanks for visiting!