Jude Riley Marbling

I use traditional marbling techniques on paper and fabric. These are then used to make ‘one of a kind’ items including silk scarves, hand bound books, greetings cards and very unusual, marbled paper jewellery.

In 1989, almost by accident, I came across an article on marbling and after a few tentative experiments became completely hooked. I base my techniques on traditional European marbling; coloured inks are floated on a bath of ‘size’, prepared from carragheen seaweed. The colours are then manipulated into an endless variety of patterns which can be lifted from the surface of the bath on a sheet of paper or length of silk fabric. I also produce some designs inspired by Japanese marbling, Suminagashi. Using a slightly modified technique, I produce bolder contemporary patterns which retain the fluid elegance of traditional Suminagashi. My inspiration comes from my love of colour and from the marbling process itself. I enjoy the manipulation of the floating colours and trying to find the balance between control and happenstance.