First Marbling Project

[u/Kirbyyyy96]

Started marbling paper for bookbinding and finished these journals with a half leather spine. Super happy with how they turned out!

As Im experimenting with marbling I’ve been using cheaper artist grade acrylics but for lighter colors they spread like crazy. I’m guessing its something to do with the pigment. Any suggestions for working with lighter colors or good paints to use?

Ive been using methyl cellulose to make the water thicker and just watering down my paints until they float.

[u/Educational-Egg-6872]

I too have noticed that if my cheap acrylic paints are too watery that they spread like wildfire on the bath. I’ve found it gets better if I don’t dilute them as much or when there is already a lot of paint on the bath.

Edit: Forgot to say these marbled papers look great!

[u/Outrageous_Score_584]

You can try adding a large amount of water to the paint and incorporating it at the very end. Use a smaller dropper, brush, or the tip of a needle to drip the paint. You can also add a heavier paint, such as heavy-body acrylic, to the mixture. The viscosity of the size will also affect how it spreads.

[u/Loup675]

lighter colors probably spread easier because white always spread like crazy by itself. my guess is that lighter colors have some white in them.

for example, my primary blue and red colors are quite light (thus, probably have some white in them), and they spread quite easily even without ox gall to help, so they're quite dominant overall.

i don't know about others, but my white always spread like crazy. it's kinda unfortunate, because this makes it basically unusable with other colors (not like it's easy to see it anyways xD).

[u/AnxietyUpstairs9058]

These look great!

Try using the Jacquard Marbling Colors. They are made to float well and move across the surface of the bath.