Paper marbling is a very old art form that has long been closely associated with bookbinding. I began marbling paper and bookbinding at about the same time, so for me it is an important aspect of the book arts. While this isn’t a tutorial, I’m sure there will be plenty of questions about materials and techniques, so I’ll try to get out ahead of some of them here. PAPER MARBLING TOPICS The Carrageenan: There are 3 types of carrageenan, only one of which is suitable for marbling. Look for “Lambda” carrageenan. It’s usually available in powdered form, though if you are in the UK I understand it can be found in its whole fresh state. The Paint: I use high-quality acrylic paints, most often Golden brand heavy-body acrylics. High quality paints have enough pigment to produce vibrant colours. I thin these with water to achieve a relatively thin consistency, so the amount of pigment is critical. Many marblers use gouache paint, though I haven’t tried that myself. The Surfactant: Ox ga