Exploring Marbling: Suminaghashi

I enrolled in another FBAC on-line class: Explorations with marbling, taught by Catherine Cross Tsintzos

In this class we learned about Suminaghashi (“floating ink”), the accent art of Japanese marbling. Ink is placed on the surface of a dish of water using pointed brushes (Sumi brushes) such that it floats on the water. A design is created by alternating a ink (traditionally black or indigo ink are used) and non-ink (soapy water). Each new addition pushes early drops out across the surface of the water, creating concentric rings. I used black and other colored inks from a marbling kit.

Suminaghashi setup used

 

Disturbances caused by air (blowing or fanning) or touching the surface (toothpick or tiny brush) can be used to change the concentric pattern into an irregular shape or create a mirror image.

Paper is gently placed on top of the floating ink on the surface of the water to capture the pattern. The choice of paper determines how well the ink is picked up and how durable the print will be. I used Yatsutomo Hosho Rice paper, BlackInk Speedball Fine Printmaking Paper (a mix of mulberry and bamboo fibers), BFK Rives Printmaking Paper (100% cotton), and watercolor paper. I liked the results on the Speedball and BFK papers best. The rice paper was thin and tore easily. The watercolor paper was thick and the ink diffused a little.

Acrylic and oil paints can be used in a similar way to make prints. Additives are used to thin the paint so it will effectively flow on top of the water. Suminaghashi can also be used to create patterns on natural fabrics (raw silk, cotton etc).

I used some of the finished Suminaghashi paper as book covers and signature wraps to make additional Criss cross bound books.

Book spine and covers ready to be bound

Bound book cover