Storytelling

In Ebru, this is a traditional pattern called Zebra. It could almost pass as another traditional pattern called Antique. The difference between the two is the size of the Stones thrown on top of the Gelgit. Larger stones make it Zebra. Smaller stones make it Antique.

I teach the history and variations of traditional patterns to my students because I feel when on knows the past ~ when one understands how something got to where it is ~ only then can one bring the story to life.

I'd love to story tell with you. New in-studio classes have just been announced and registration is still open for the Clouds on Water eCourse.

Epic Fail, Epic Beauty

This weekend, I was messing around with different rake and comb sizes in the production of traditional patterns. I'm making handouts for my Clouds on Water eCourse and I want students to see how different a pattern can look just by changing up the size of the tool (even the strokes are exactly the same).

I'm having a blast doing this and learning a lot along the way, as one usually does when one looks at something from a different perspective. For example, I discovered you CANNOT push the boundaries of the Scallop pattern too far before it becomes completely unrecognizable. It's a pattern that wants to be ~ needs to be ~ tight. In the piece above I went loose. Technically, one would call this piece a failed attempt at Scallop. And yet, I keep getting lost in its beauty, movement, and details and can't help but call it a success.

Marbling is all about not being too quick to judge, not being too quick to dismiss, not being too rigid with expectations. It's about flipping the switch and being open to the possibilities. 

Sigh...I Could Look at this all Day Long

Some days call for a Reverse Bouquet. In your favorite Yellows and a dash of Sap Green.

One of the many traditional patterns you'll learn in the Clouds on Water intro-to-marbling eCourse. I'd love to show you how it's done!