Acrylic Paper Marbling for Beginners, Step 1: How to thicken water for acrylic paper marbling

[@dienekevugts5572]

Thank you for this video. It was something I was looking for.

[@JamesMouland]

Glad it was helpful!

[@margarethdemery488]

Absolutely a Fantabulous first how to get started video - Water marbling - thank you !❤

[@JamesMouland]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sandrastowell7672]

❤ very clear presentation!

[@JamesMouland]

Glad you think so!

[@yolandambridges474]

Thank you so much. I'm going to follow your directions and hopefully finally get the water solution correct!

[@JamesMouland]

Good luck!

[@energysavingday]

Very helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and advice

[@JamesMouland]

My pleasure!

[@lizzieatherfold2293]

Thank you for sharing this information it’s greatly appreciated

[@JamesMouland]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marycarmenamezcua8516]

Thanks. Very good your class and tips 👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌

[@JamesMouland]

😁

[@MoniqueAO888]

Great info...thanks for sharing !!!

[@JamesMouland]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dariawilber2213]

Absolutely journal your measurements. Great advice!

[@JamesMouland]

I still have notes from 15 years ago that I refer to 🙌

[@terriduwensee7343]

thank you .....im just getting started

[@JamesMouland]

You are very welcome. I hope it helps. Enjoy the journey.

[@doninis1354]

Very helpful. I just need space for bigger projects 😉 thank you.

[@JamesMouland]

Glad it was helpful! Good luck, finding bigger space. Whereabouts are you?

[@JaneHatch-f6h]

Great info and will be trying this method xxxx

[@JamesMouland]

Good to know you found it useful good luck!

[@designsbyjulles]

Cheers! 🎉

[@JamesMouland]

😁

[@MeJu.ART.]

Thank you for sharing. I mixed it now. I will try it tomorrow.

[@JamesMouland]

That’s great. Let us know how you get on. 😃

[@MeJu.ART.]

Dear James IT was miserable. I dont know What is wrong​@@JamesMouland

[@MeJu.ART.]

kzbin.infoBBAJr8-dchQ?si=1qaT2Q9SFdkSvihh

[@MeJu.ART.]

kzbin.infoBBAJr8-dchQ?si=41tGRwZfHiq0RVBn

[@JamesMouland]

@@MeJu.ART. which materials are you using?

[@Matthew.Morycinski]

Avoidance of lumps is why they use "high shear mixing" machines in the cosmetics industry. As soon as a lump of methylcellulose (or any other thickener) hits the water, it will tend to draw water in, and form a noodle that takes ages to loosen up. I would suggest using a blender in a cylindrical container - it may be the same bottle with the top cut off. If you sift in the thickener onto rapidly rotating water, the lumps won't have much chance to form. Whatever does form, the blender will break up. Just make sure to avoid drawing in bubbles.

[@JamesMouland]

Good advice 👍🏻

[@CarmillaN]

Thanks!

[@JamesMouland]

Thank you for your generosity, very much appreciated 🙏🏻

[@geertjedebruin8459]

Thanks

[@JamesMouland]

You are so kind, thank you very much 😊

[@Cchouette]

Instructional video 👍🏻 Question: do you add Borax when using Methyl Cellulose binder ?

[@JamesMouland]

Yes I am in the habit of adding borax to all my mixes, I also keep it in the fridge if I’m not using it for a day or two

[@eliz1957]

Thank you for your video ❤ Is this recipe good for silk scarves or runners???

[@JamesMouland]

@@eliz1957 yes, but the viscosity will vary depending on your local water conditions and heat and humidity

[@eliz1957]

@@JamesMouland … thank you very much… I live on a tropical island in North Queensland Australia… Humidity is high here sometimes

[@JamesMouland]

@@eliz1957 well your liquid might go ‘tropo’ best to test a small batch to get the viscosity right before scaling up. I know there is an experienced marbler in Brisbane, you might be able to find them on the international marbling network on fb and get some advice 👍🏻

[@SidSam-zp3ed]

Sir this method apply on fabric plz answering me

[@JamesMouland]

Yes. For best results treat fabric with aluminium sulphate and use acrylics recommended for fabric

[@SidSam-zp3ed]

@@JamesMouland ok sir my pleasure sir you can make the video of use the aluminium sulphate on fabric

[@JamesMouland]

@@SidSam-zp3ed I’ll try to find time. You can follow instructions that the manufacturer gives you

[@TBFjourney]

Does heating the water have any affect on dissolving rate? Agarose (Cellulose seaweed derivative powder) dissolves quite fast when we toss it in a microwave for DNA visualization

[@JamesMouland]

Yes it dissolves more quickly with hot water

[@barbaramah4422]

Thanks for the data! I can't quite get the type of paint that you use for fabrics. Can you type it out for me please?

[@JamesMouland]

Pebeo. New video coming next week in which I talk and share more about the acrylics.

[@shellfishlady64]

New to this medium, thanks for the clear and concise explanation of mixing and ratios of the base mix😊

[@JamesMouland]

@@shellfishlady64glad it helped 👍🏻

[@myhawaii00]

do you have a video on marbling glass (jars, wine bottles, etc.)

[@JamesMouland]

Hi, no not yet but thanks for asking, it’s on the to do list 😁

[@joanhalverson3796]

Great video, clear, concise, and needed by so many people! Would you use the same measurements for dyeing fabric? Have you ever dyed fabric? Specifically 100% Cotton. I want to used this method to dye my cotton fabric. I do use the PFD, Prepared for Dyeing, fabric when dyeing my fabric. I am wondering how this method would work. Thank you for a fun looking project.

[@JamesMouland]

@@joanhalverson3796 hi thanks for your question. All materials will vary slightly and some dramatically. The only thing to do is set it up like an experiment and make sure you journal each step so that you can repeat. Pebeo definitely works on fabric and most fabrics, especially cotton will take an acrylic based colour if the fabric is free of detergent and treated with aluminium sulphate to help with binding. it is always trial and error, have fun experimenting and let us know how you get on 😃

[@dianapintocorreia3384]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge❤ I"m starting in marbling. What kind of Methylcel you use? I've found for food and for glue in construction. I dont know wich one i should buy... 😂 Big thanks from Portugal.

[@JamesMouland]

It’s hard to tell before testing, try buying something you know has been used successfully by someone else or just buy a small amount and test it before investing in large quantities.

[@beryltreble32]

Hi, can you tell me which is the best Carageenan to buy please? Thanks

[@JamesMouland]

Are you in the UK?

[@beryltreble32]

Yes

[@beryltreble32]

Hi James, I live in the UK

[@JamesMouland]

You can order on Etsy and eBay from suppliers in the uk if Carageenan, figure out who is doing the best deal near you. For a cheaper alternative I have methylcel. You can WhatsApp me on 07968 702136 or email [e-mail]

[@sandier78]

I learned this in graphic design in college

[@JamesMouland]

Do you still do it?

[@sandier78]

@JamesMouland I've been wanting to do it again, so that's how I found your video! That was about 20yrs ago so I needed a refresher on getting started. Thank you for your video!

[@JamesMouland]

@@sandier78 my pleasure, enjoy getting back to marbling!

[@manomano8939]

I couldn’t see the kits on your website. Are they special one off orders?

[@JamesMouland]

Yes, I put them together for my students. If demand increases I may sell them through the website. You can email me if you’d like me to put a kit together, they start from £50 with 3 colours and 100grams of methyl cell

[@Zara-ZAF]

Which colors do u use?​@@JamesMouland

[@JamesMouland]

@@Zara-ZAF Pebeo Red, yellow, blue, black , green, brown and white

[@Zara-ZAF]

@@JamesMouland pebeo marbling colors? Or gouche? I have pebeo gouche colors

[@JamesMouland]

@@Zara-ZAF in the videos I am using Pebeo Marbling paint, it is formulated acrylic for marbling

[@CarmillaN]

Thank you, I've been having problems and I think it's an issue with my bath. (Paint falling to the bottom of the tray, not floating until it's so watered down I can barely see it.) You said that the amount of methylcel or carageenan varies depending on how hard your water is - do you add more or less for hard water? Do you have super thanks turned on? I don't see the button.

[@JamesMouland]

It may be the paint quality or size too thick. To check paint quality try it on plain water then try it on varying viscosity. If the paint still sinks it may be lacking a wetting agent suitable for marbling. Very hard water requires more methylcel or carageenan but probably no more than I used in the video as the water I use is very high in calcium. Hope this helps. My super thanks should be on but isn’t showing 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@JamesMouland]

Okay, I think super thanks is working now I rebooted it, thank you for bringing it to my attention 🙌

[@CarmillaN]

@@JamesMouland I've been in classes where I brought paints and used a size made by the instructor, and this is the same paint brand. That was what made me think it's the size, but I didn't know how to troubleshoot. I used carageenan but I'm going to switch to methyl cel until I get a better feel for doing things on my own because these are some expensive mistakes! :) Thank you!

[@JamesMouland]

@@CarmillaN make sure you keep a journal of materials and measurements and only change one variable at a time when troubleshooting, it’s really easy to miss a step or get distracted in our busy lives. Best of luck and keep persevering 🙌

[@CarmillaN]

​@@JamesMoulandThat's great advice, thank you!

[@TiannaApps]

Hello, could you make a large batch of this? Say 19L bucket? Same ratio, 5grams per litre?

[@JamesMouland]

Yes but I’d check the correct ratio for your powder first at small quantities before scaling up

[@designsbyjulles]

Love your videos (as I am a beginner) and I’m watching them from all the way from Australian !!! (However a Brit from Bournemouth at heart ❤) Keep them coming!

[@JamesMouland]

Love Bournemouth and Australia, spent 2 years going round the outside and up the middle. Where abouts you living?

[@designsbyjulles]

@@JamesMouland Melbourne! Been here 35 years but still miss home. Looking at learning to print on fabric as I’m a Fashion Designer so I found your videos very educational - thank for your time. You never know who are watching your videos both near & far away… keep them coming and Happy Easter 🐣

[@JamesMouland]

@@designsbyjulles thats great Happy Easter and Happy Marbling!

[@susankochenberger7780]

Is there another thickener that can be used?

[@JamesMouland]

I'm not aware of any that produce good results, some people use corn starch but I've not tried, no harm in experimenting, let us know if you have success!

[@lydiadevries8408]

Do you have a stand mixer? Much easier but only use blending attachment and it is ready to go after 20 min.

[@JamesMouland]

Yes it’s quicker if you have one

[@Suzuki_Akira]

Great video and technique shown! Curious to know where the paper tray is sourced, having a hard time finding these...

[@JamesMouland]

I’m in the uk it’s an A4 paper tray

[@Suzuki_Akira]

@@JamesMoulandthank you, not finding ones like that but think I found something called “developer trays” that might work.

[@CarolineHawkins-b3k]

A (preferably new) cat litter tray makes a good inexpensive tray to start with.

[@Suzuki_Akira]

@@CarolineHawkins-b3k great idea I didn’t think about 🙇

[@MysteryMycology]

you are getting a funnel for Christmas send me your address! Thanks for the vids :D

[@JamesMouland]

@@MysteryMycology that’s funny and generous 🙏🏻

[@PaperSquadron]

You can avoid those lumps in the mix if you gradually add powder to water while stirring all the time. At least it is how you dissolve wallpaper paste, which is very similar to this substance... Speaking of which, is it possible to use wallpaper paste in this process instead of methylcellulose?

[@JamesMouland]

I’ve not tried wallpaper paste but I hear from those that have that it’s not ideal

[@PaperSquadron]

@@JamesMouland Thanks, it's good to know