Contemporary Turkish Marbling Ebru

Art of All Ages: Contemporary Turkish Marbling Ebru

Location: Glassell Park, Los Angeles (address will be emailed upon registering)

Come experience the captivating art of marbling, where you float vibrant inks on water and create one-of-a-kind patterns to be printed on various materials! We will be taking a contemporary approach to Turkish Ebru, an ancient art form that dates back to the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.

The class is specially formulated for people of all ages and art experience, using non-toxic, water-based inks, as well as tools you can easily find at home, or in art stores. Come have fun by yourself, with your friend, or with your little one (age 8+ recommended to take the class without adult supervision). After this comprehensive class, you will be ready to continue practicing marbling at home!

Note: All materials are provided in the workshop. Each student will be using their own marbling vat to create their own designs. If you would like to share the vat with another person (i.e. your child or a date) you are welcome to, for a discounted price. Please purchase the ticket labeled "Shared Experience (vat) for 2."

The host will guide you through the whole process, from color theory to making your own unique print, encouraging experimentation and supportive interactions as you work alongside others. Create various patterns on different types of paper, as well as non-paper products of your choice: a set of five cork coasters, a mini vase, or a "dumpling bag". (You can purchase "Add On" tickets if you would like to print on non-paper items.) The papers and fabric products need to be treated with a mordant before applying ink, and they will be before class, so you don't have to! You can, however, bring your own bisque-fired ceramics, like unglazed terra cotta pots. The fun part of Turkish marbling is that you can marble on various materials: paper, fabric, wood, cork, ceramics, and leather.

Not only will you be able to make stunning, no-fail designs, but you will surely enjoy the process of creating your own color palette, splattering layers of vibrant colors on water, seeing the ink float and flow, and mind-dancing between manipulating the pattern and letting the water take its course. It's all about playing, trusting your intuition, and having a fun experience of creating together with others!

Note: Marbling is messy, and getting your hands dirty is actually welcomed at the studio. However, please wear clothes that can welcome paint splatters and brush strokes :) You will likely be standing on your feet throughout class, barefoot or in socks. Feel free to email the host with any questions.

Workshops are non-refundable; if you are unable to attend after registering, you may transfer your spot to another person.

A bout Art for All Ages host Shizuka

Shizuka received her BFA in Communication Design at Parsons School of Design. She worked as a graphic designer for over a decade while enriching her life with disciplines spanning printmaking, photography, drawing, writing, and most recently, oil painting. Having been a full-time mother to her first child for a decade also taught her to be a guide for living creatively, experiencing the world with more curiosity, wonder, and gratitude. Whether it be making funny-shaped dumplings with her own kids, hosting an opera summer camp for preschoolers, or creating marbling workshops in elementary schools and hotel bars, Shizuka loves to create experiences that light up the inner child in all of us. She hopes to inspire adults and children alike to intentionally use art-making as a way to develop one’s own voice, broaden perspectives, and foster healthy relationships with oneself and others. Art is for everyone, and creating is a natural expression of being human.

Take a peek at her recent artworks here.

Host or Publisher Shizuka