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Marbling with Acrylic Paint on Fabric

July 4, 2016 by Clara Nartey 32 Comments

Create Fantastic Abstract Art by Marbling with Acrylic Paint on Fabric

The wonderful thing about being in a group of like-minded people is that although we are like-minded, we’re not same-minded.  There’s an abundance of variety in thought, skills, and talents which make the group dynamic.

Instructions for marbling with acrylics on fabric
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I’m a member of a small art group.  There are six of us in the group.  We meet once a month to discuss and share our art.

Marbling with Acrylic Paint on Fabric
My Art Group at The Marbling Workshop

One of the members of my group – Dwight Lopes- has been exploring marbling with acrylic paint on fabric for a long while.  He’s always exploring and trying new things.  He even traveled to Turkey to see this ancient art being done. I look forward to seeing his new surface designs via marbling (with acrylic paint on fabric) at our monthly meetings.

Using "spluttering method"
Clara at Dwight’s Marbling Workshop

Marbling involves floating inks and paints (acrylic, watercolor etc.) on a liquid or gel medium. Then you lay paper or fabric on top of the liquid to pick up the paints. This creates beautiful patterns that can result in fantastic abstract art.

Dwight Lopes Demonstrating while Barb Adams and Jan Doyle Eagerly Watch

Dwight offered to treat the group to a workshop where he’d teach us how we can create our own marbling with acrylic paint on fabric. I could hardly wait to take the workshop. I have so many tubes of acrylic paint which were gifted to me a while back. They’ve been sitting in my studio to be used. So this workshop to me, was just the inspiration I needed.

Here’s a quick overview of our marbling workshop.

Supplies for Marbling with Acrylic Paint on Fabric 

  • Acrylic Paints (available at Art stores like DickBlick.com) UPDATE: Formula for thinning paints below
  • Mixture of methocel marbling medium, fabric medium, and water (affiliate link)
  • PFD Cotton available at Prochem, Dharma Trading)
  • Alum Sizing for pre-treating cotton fabric (affiliate link)
  • Pipettes for dropping paint (affiliate link)
  • Combs, sticks, other implements for creating patterns
  • Newsprint for removing bubbles in marbling medium
  • Water for rinsing
  • Flat surface to hold marbled fabric
marbling with acrylics on fabric
Grab your own copy of the instructions plus helpful tips

Formula for Thinning  Acrylic Paints

2 parts Golden Fluid acrylic paint
1 part water
1 part GAC 900 acrylic medium (affiliate link)

Step by Step Instructions for Marbling With Acrylic Paint On Fabric

Step 1

Fill a tub with marbling medium and remove bubbles from the medium using folded newsprint.

Marbling with acrylic paint on fabric removing bubbles first
Removing Bubbles from Marbling Medium

Step 2

Drop different colors of acrylic paint onto the marbling medium (some paints move faster than others)

Marbling with Acrylic Paint on Fabric - dropping paint
Dropping Paint in Pipettes On to Marbling Medium

Step 3

Create patterns by using combs, brushes, sticks and other implements to move paint drops around. You can make swirls, flowers, organic shapes etc.

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Creating Patterns with Combs

Step 4

Gently lay alum-sized fabric on top of floating acrylic paint-pattern

 

Marbling with Acrylic Paint on Fabric
Laying alum-sized fabric on floating paints

Step 5

Gently pick up your fabric, which would have in turn picked up the paint patterns

 

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Gently Pick Up the Fabric

Step 6

Rinse with water

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Dwight rinsing-off Marbled Fabric while Barb and Jan Watch

Step 7

Hang to dry

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Marbled Fabrics Drying on Clothes Line

Step 8

Iron on the wrong side for several minutes (10 minutes or more), using pressing sheets to protect your iron and ironing board

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Iron on Reverse Side for Several Minutes

You can download your own copy of the instructions below.

marbling with acrylics on fabric
Grab your own copy of the instructions plus helpful tips

Designs Created from Marbling With Acrylic Paint on Fabric.

Here are the designs I created. 

I used a stick to create patterns in this one.

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Marbled Fabric #1

No agitation to the paint drops here- I just picked up the paint as-is

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Marbled Fabric #2

I splattered paint on the marbling medium to create this marbled fabric

marbling with acrylic paint on fabric
Marbled Fabric #3

I used 2 different combs to create this pattern

Using "spluttering method"
Marbled Fabric #4

Here, I used a stick to gently move the paint drops around the tub to create patterns

Using "spluttering method"
Marbled Fabric #5

Our workshop was wonderful.  I stayed long past the time the class was supposed to end because I was having such great fun. There’s a lot more to explore.  I’ve got to make time to try it out in my studio.

It’s a very exciting technique.  Dwight has studied the topic in depth and still continues studying it.  It’ll be fun to see some of the new discoveries he makes with this surface design method.

marbling with acrylics on fabric
Grab your own copy of the instructions plus helpful tips

For me, I’m still thinking of ways in which I can incorporate it in my current work. I look forward to finally using some of the acrylic paint I’ve got sitting here in my studio.

UPDATE: See how I used these fabrics to create some really awesome textile art.

Questions: Are you interested in surface designs? Have you tried marbling with acrylic paints and how do you like it? What are some of the challenges that you’ve had with marbling? Start a discussion and let’s talk about this fun surface design technique.

Warmest Regards,

Clara's Signature

 


This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small percentage of sales made using affiliate links. Thanks so much!

PS: If you enjoyed the tutorial, share it with all your friends using the share buttons below!

 

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Comments

  1. Laura says

    July 7, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    I’ve tried marbling 3 times now, using different paints each time, and was disappointed each time. Some paints were too heavy, and dropped down into the methocel, and the others looked ok when wet but turned out rather dull when the fabric dried. What type of paints did you use? And did they have to be thinned with water?

    Reply
  2. Clara Nartey says

    July 7, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    Laura, sorry to hear your marbling experience to date hasn’t been a stellar one.

    We used acrylic paints in this workshop and yes the acrylic paints are thinned
    2 parts Golden Fluid acrylic paint
    1 part water
    1 part GAC 900 acrylic medium

    I did notice too that some of the paints fell to the bottom. The paints are certainly not the same. They each act differently. I’ve also learned that you need to iron your fabric for quite a while to heat set the paint. Otherwise you can lose some of the color intensity after washing.

    I hope that helps.
    Clara.

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    July 8, 2016 at 6:37 am

    Thanks for the info, Clara. I’ve never added the GAC medium to any of the paints I’ve used, nor ironed the pieces before washing, so I’ll try both next time.

    Reply
  4. Clara Nartey says

    July 8, 2016 at 9:35 am

    Those two changes should make a difference. Let me know how you make out when you try out marbling again.

    Reply
  5. Maureen says

    July 9, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    I have also found that slow application of the iron helps to set the paint before the wash. Sometimes I just move too quickly! Thank you Clara for the step by step photos.

    Reply
  6. Clara says

    July 9, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    Thanks Maureen for that tip. I can see how I’d “hurriedly” ran the iron over the fabric to get done so I could move on to something else. It’s a lot of experimentation for sure that will produce consistently good results 🙂

    Reply
  7. Carol Eaton says

    July 18, 2016 at 7:28 am

    I love the results!

    Reply
  8. Clara says

    July 18, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    Yes, lovely!!! But Carol, I know you also create some awesome surface designs.

    Reply
  9. Christine Shook says

    January 1, 2017 at 12:15 pm

    This is stunning! I just discovered acrylic pouring techniques and stumbled upon this blog post. Thank you for the detailed instructions! As I’m new to marbling, what is the ratio you use for the marbling medium (and what is it?!)? I honestly thought it was just water (lol). Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      January 1, 2017 at 6:15 pm

      Christine, you’re most welcome.

      Make the marbling medium by mixing 1.5 TBS of methocel, 1 TBS of ammonia and 1 gallon of warm water.

      I’m working on an ebook with even more instructions PLUS shopping guide for my subscribers. I’ll post it here as soon as it’s ready in a few weeks. So check back again.

      Reply
  10. Julie Schneider says

    September 27, 2017 at 9:31 am

    I am interested in an ebook is it available?

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      September 27, 2017 at 10:29 am

      Hi Julie,
      Thanks for writing. Click here to get the FREE marbling ebook.
      Warmest regards,
      Clara

      Reply
  11. Sharlie says

    February 12, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    I have mixed the paints to your specifications. I bought the same paints etc you said you use. When I add 1 part water it spreads very fast it does not come back to a circle. I have tried adding just a small amount and it still spreads a bit to much. The black is a big problem. It drops to the bottom. It does not spread even adding more water. Do you have any trouble with black

    Reply
  12. Azra Thabassum says

    September 13, 2018 at 3:13 am

    Hi..Clara

    Glad to have found a forum to seek help from marbling experts like you..
    I was fascinated by ebru art of Turkish marbling and since almost a year I have been planning and putting things together like firstly size.. After trying almost everything of what ever I could get my hands on I have now found a good size which works fairly well Guar gum..
    Secondly the paints that I prefer(fabric paint very good pigments) are now out of production but I have gathered enough to experiment and now the paints are being naughty and every single one of them have a very different characteristics ????so I don’t know what to do tried everything already but I just wish I could take these to an expert and get them to make the paints readily usable ???? so I can stop experimenting and start enjoying. Any help or advice you can give me regarding the paint and size trouble shooting would be much appreciated.

    Regards
    Frustrated ???? DIY er

    Reply
  13. LaFonia says

    September 16, 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Is there a certain acrylic paint to use for marbling or can it just be water based?

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      September 16, 2018 at 8:48 pm

      LaFonia, I used water-based acrylic paints for my marbling. Recently, I’ve come across water-based paint specifically made for pouring (marbling) on fabric, although I’ve not tried it. Prochemical and Dye has it. You can find their pourable paint here. I hope that helps.
      Warmest regards,
      Clara.

      Reply
  14. Linda Foskey says

    September 19, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    Hi Clara
    I had my first craft fair last weekend and did pretty well. It seemed that by the afternoon the paint was reacting differently-not spreading the same and some of the paint started dropping to the bottom. I changed my carrageenan mid day-the fresh carrageenan had been sitting out all morning in the warm temperatures in the shade. I have a couple questions-firstly should I try using methocel for the water? And secondly have been using the Jacquard marbling paint-do you feel the Gold liquid acrylic paint is better? I have never really been satisfied with the Jacquard red being vibrant enough.
    Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
    Thanks,
    Linda

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      September 19, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      Hey Linda,
      I’m so glad to hear you did well at your first craft fair. My suggestion is to do small experiments at home trying different paints and carrageenan combinations. Some people swear by one or the other. Also, the hardness of the water where you live could influence your results.

      All the best.
      Clara.

      Reply
  15. Jodie says

    December 26, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    I remember marbling paper in girl scouts long ago. I use fabrics in (art) quilts now and like the idea of using my own “prints”. How pliable is the fabric after the process? Can you use it like ordinary fabric or is it stiffer?

    Best, Jodie

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      December 27, 2018 at 7:26 pm

      Yes Jodie, the fabrics are very “pliable” after you iron them. I’ve used some in creating textile art as you can see here.

      Reply
  16. Ruthy says

    January 16, 2019 at 11:39 am

    What else can one use aside marbling medium?

    Reply
  17. Lori says

    January 24, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    Hello! I was wondering about the use of alum on the fabric with acrylic paints. I have seen this in other instructions for marbling with acrylics as well, but I have been curious about it since alum isn’t required for acrylic fabric painting generally. What does the alum do and why is it specifically suggested (or required) for marbling with acrylics? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      February 6, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      Great question, Lori.
      The alum acts as a mordant.
      It helps fix the paint to the fabric.

      Reply
  18. Deb says

    March 15, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    A tip I’ve found helpful that I don’t think was specified in the instructions is to use distilled water to dilute your paints. I also wouldn’t necessarily start with a 1:1 paint to water ratio – use smaller amounts of water, mix, see how it works, and add more water as necessary to get the desired spread. Also not mentioned in the instructions, if the paint is just dropping to the bottom it can be coaxed to spread with a dispersant (I use Golden Acrylic Flow Release medium). Too much of this will make the paint spread to the point of disappearing so, again, experiment with just a tiny drop at a time to get the desired result. To minimize all this fussing around Jacquard has come out with a line of marbling paints that really perform very well without any mixing or diluting at all. Marbling can be frustrating, but often it’s more about letting go of your preconceptions of what you WANT it to look like or what you EXPECT the paint to do and just let it happen – there are really no mistakes here!

    Reply
    • Clara Nartey says

      March 15, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      Great tips, Deb. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  19. Susan says

    June 10, 2019 at 1:51 am

    I really want to try this. Where do you find Methocel?

    Reply
  20. Sally M Stern says

    July 7, 2019 at 10:28 am

    Hi, when marbelizing a t-shirt, what shoule I place between the front and back sides to marbelize? Ane I am guessing the front and back have to be separately, right?

    Reply
  21. Min Puno says

    October 18, 2020 at 1:38 am

    How thick should the carrageenan be? If I follow the directions on the package, I find it too thin. Some instructions suggest it should be like wallpaper paste, if you are not familiar with this paste how do we gauge?

    Reply
  22. Jenn says

    May 14, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    Do you have instructions for making tshirts?

    Reply
  23. Trina says

    May 17, 2021 at 10:20 am

    Hi Clara! I am looking for a way to do this on a swimsuit. That material is tricky to work with any suggestions? Thank you in advance. I’m pinning & sharing this post! I love the looks of this. If you have details that could help me save my brand new $120 suit. Please feel free to email me. Trina@redneckrhapsody.com

    Reply
  24. Felix says

    October 13, 2022 at 6:40 am

    I do acrylic pouring on canvas , I find this to be very interesting… I give it a short ….. Marbling has been my secret next endeavor. It may take time on my side to do my first trials, but I’ll keep you posted once do my first marbling art.

    Reply
  25. Teresa Davis says

    November 24, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Hiiii Clara, I just came across the world of Marbling on fabric and find it very exciting! I see a lot of tutorials but I would love to attend a class/workshop for in person learning.
    Can you help me? I live in Covington GA. I’ve goggled and am having no luck. At this point I’ll even take a virtual zoom class.
    Thank you for your assistance!

    Reply

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