MTSU Book and Printing Arts and History

Paper Marbling Workshop, Oct. 1, 2022

Marbled paper is a traditional material for decorating book covers and end pages, but it is also used to decorate fabric or to be an artwork in its own right. Historical techniques for creating marbled paper can produce images that look like stone, feathers, or waves. You can join us for a paper marbling experience run by Dr. Laura Cochrane on an upcoming Saturdays at Todd. Participants will learn how to prepare materials, create unique designs with ink, and pull prints. The event will take place on October 1 at 1 PM and is open to the public. Participants are limited to 8 and must be at least 16 years old. RSVP is required for attendance. For more information, visit The Saturdays at Todd Web site.

MTSU student Jernicya McCrackin pulling a sheet of marbled paper.

An MTSU student preparing to
marble paper in a previous workshop.

19th-century marbled papers from the MTSU Art and Design Historical and Teaching Collection.

Marbled paper Web sites and videos:

Below is a library of Web sites and videos on historical marbling and on the techniques of different regions, including Western-style marbling, Japanese Suminagashi, and Turkish Ebru. At the end are links to DIY marbling videos.

Western style marbled papers:

https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2017/04/27/rare-books-and-the-marvelous-art-of-marbling/

Marbled papers from the Special Collections Library at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

A history of marbled papers from the Library of the University College Dublin.

An article on endpapers from Atlas Obscura.

Videos