Making Tiger Eye Marbled Paper

Paper marbling is a centuries-old art form that was once an integral part of the bookbinding trade, but is now relatively obscure. At Four Keys Book Arts we have made a point of maintaining, and I hope reviving, both of these disappearing crafts. In this video I am printing an edition of bespoke tiger eye marbled papers. This is not a tutorial video, but a look ’behind the scenes’ at the process. The marbling process begins with the ‘size’, the fluid bath upon which the marbling paints are floated and manipulated into the desired patterns. The size is made from carrageenan, derived from carrageen moss, a type of seaweed (or more accurately, an algae). The resulting fluid is as thick as cream and will not readily mix with paint. Many types of paint can be used for marbling. I use acrylic paints, though gouache and watercolor paints are also commonly used. The paints are thinned and mixed with an ‘expander’, which causes the paint to spread upon the size. The properties of the carrageenan