The Art Of Drawing On The Water

Ebru is the Turkish art of paper-handling or marbling,  which can produce patterns similar to smooth marble or other stone. The patterns are the result of color floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size, and then carefully transferred to an absorbent surface, such as paper or fabric.

The oldest known Ebru was founded in the 10th century in East Asia. It shows that even at this time the art had reached perfection. In the 15th century the method of floating colors on the surface of mucilaginous sizing is thought to have emerged in Central Asia. It is believed to have appeared during the end of the Islamic Timurid Dynasty. In the 17th century European travelers to the Middle East collected examples of these papers.

They became a popular covering material not only for book covers and end-papers, but also for lining chests, drawers, and bookshelves.

Marbled paper is still made today. Aside from continued traditional applications, artists now explore using the method as a kind of painting technique, and as an element in collage.

Here is a short film, that shows how Ebru is made, what is technique and how amazing and picturesque  this type of art can be made by today’s artists.