Paper Marbling in Florence, Italy with Rajiv Surendra

[@AM-by5er]

Living vicariously Rajiv! Thank you so much! Hoping Italian craftsmanship never goes away. The world needs their skills to make practical things beautiful : )

[@theresarose1052]

Love that blue

[@mklarson2980]

Rajiv reminds me of a line I heard in a movie once, "He eats life!" His passion for interests and experiences always inspires me.

[@crafty_nerdette]

Same, I have taken up bookbinding because of him, which has made me begin to marble my own paper. He has so many of the same interests as me, plus some I didn't know I had until watching him! I am waiting to see if he enjoys fountain pens as much as I do, then I know we were best friends in another life!

[@carlabravi8623]

As an Italian my compliments to you for this video. And you understand and speak Italian very well ! 🎉

[@rajivsurendra]

Grazie mille ;-)

[@lucylou5766]

@@rajivsurendraAgreed, you seem to communicate quite well, but take it from someone who knows - be careful what imprecations you copy in Italy. 😊

[@mezanian]

What joy, I was right there with you. Memories of marbling paper 40 years ago. 😊❤

[@susananthony2366]

I had a wonderful art instructor when I was young who explained how to breathe when making a single stroke or line. He said to relax the body..shake out the stress (or the giggles), breath normally, take a normal breath when you begin, and slowly breathe out as you make your line. The breathing in and out can show in the final. I found myself slowly breathing out as you rolled the paper down on the ink! What a wonderful and fun thing you shared with us, Raj. Thank you so much.

[@lauramccallum2132]

Wonderful creativity enjoyed watching this. When did you start learning the Italian language?

[@lauramccallum2132]

❤

[@linaD08]

Made coffee while I quietly hoped there would be a Rajiv video….. Wishes granted!!!

[@marionandrews176]

Wow, Leticia made it the process look so effortless. I hope that the next generation of the family continue this beautiful craft.

[@KerriHammond-mr2cy]

I’m a fiber artist,bookbinder and miniaturist and the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do( and failed) is paper marbling. So many factor have to be just right to make it work! It’s so nice to see an expert in action!

[@chillnndc]

Bro is living his best life 👏🏾👏🏾

[@kayewilson8391]

My aunt was an art teacher her entire life but every summer break she went to Italy to paint for herself. She lived an amazing life.

[@jonavin2361]

Utterly mesmerising, Letizia was dancing with the colours!! Wasn't her paintbrush, coated in paint from years of art, just wonderful? I held my breath too as you lowered the paper onto the surface Rajiv. This was one of my most favourite videos thank you to you, Letizia, Marco and all the family. Visiting Florence is on my wishlist and I'll definitely include a trip to their beautiful shop!

[@smusz]

being taught by a master is both humbling and an honor -well done!

[@mysteriousu5528]

Absolutely beautiful Rajiv. This video proves art transcends all the barriers. We can understand what Aunt Letizia does from her expressions that go along with the language. Thank you for bringing Florence to us. Have an amazing weekend.

[@rajivsurendra]

All my years of listening to Italian opera arias have helped me get the gist of most conversations here.

[@catherineibanez9469]

I was there this past summer and had this experience with the wonderful women in this same shop. The fee was very reasonable and the experience was priceless! Love the old dog “Blue”. His coat is all paint speckled from sleeping beside the work station. Next time I’m going to do the book binding workshop. Thanks for this wonderful video!

[@peacelovebliss]

In Japan, the technique they use for paper marbling is called suminagashi. Paper and paint is universal art medium. Thanks for sharing the Italian version :-)

[@TheresaCheek]

How wonderful you are to share this! I had to laugh when they said the red doesn't "respect "the other colors. Red is definitely aggressive but I like the terminology of "respect" better! That old brush used as a striking stick was a treasure.

[@chtitmog]

I visited Florence last year and even though I knew it was beautiful, I didn’t expect to fall in love with the city - I think I had stars in my eyes during all my trip from seeing so much art and beauty around (and eating such amazing food). I had a wonderful time and also went to this store! There, I bought a marbled notebook and a marbled paper fan to gift my daughter and my mother-in-law and they loved them! Seeing how they were made makes me even more appreciative of this skilled, talented lady. Thank you for sharing her work with us, Rajiv! Your channel is a true gem on YT - we are so lucky to have you. ❤

[@sharonwarry7274]

If you loved Florence you should read Still Life by Sarah Winman. X

[@myrradine]

Rajiv, these videos of your adventures in Italy are sublime. I too was holding my breath at certain points! Loving it all! Grazie mille ❤

[@RossellaFanelli]

I'm Italian, thank you so much for making me discover something about my same home country ❤❤ i was holding my breath with you 😅

[@curlykew]

She is such an amazing teacher!!

[@susannah8986]

Bravo Rajiv. The choice of pink was spot on. So creative & colorful. A lost Art brought back to life.

[@knittingPrana]

What a Joy to watch this process of Marbling...thank you so much for filming this ancient art of paper colouring.

[@maricara3881]

Rajiv is blessed that his wrist maneuvering from his cursive transferred effortlessly to the combing of the paint: his paper looks like cloth! Impressive! 👏

[@Margaux247]

Every paper is a true piece of art ❤❤

[@trishf2184]

The old dog!!❤❤❤ this was a treat on so many levels...thanks!

[@organicmagic8822]

Yay! You get to experience it at the source ❤️

[@annierampersad3982]

I really appreciate the talent of Leticia. Thank you Rajiv for this phenomenal video ❤

[@jyotidowdell3598]

This is mesmerizing! Thank you for highlighting these amazing artisans.

[@rajivsurendra]

Thank you for watching. Every subscription to my channel, every view and comment helps to keep this going.

[@TheVikingmaiden]

I'm impressed by how much Rajiv could understand. Also, she makes it look so easy, but when he does it you can tell that it's difficult.

[@gailcooper5646]

Rajiv, those papers are positively gorgeous!

[@homerooster4022]

Fabulous skill of the demonstrators. Thank you for bringing me here. Rajiv you are delight to watch your reverence is humbling

[@Signe-p3m]

Wow what a great experience. She was a good instructor too. I like how you allowed her to show you the finer points as well. Your ability to communicate in Italian is good to see. And kudos to the photographer who is also an artist. You never disappoint, Rajiv!

[@michellee3575]

Dear Rajiv, You embody the definition of a Renaissance Man and I'm living vicariously thru your videos! Thank you for sharing your view of the world ❤ Love your work, God bless you 🙏

[@elmakim478]

I love her PANTS!!! Her elegance and great charm. Congratulations!!! This was totally awesome to watch. ❤

[@bluemoyie8618]

Hmmmmm .... did you mean to say "PAINTS" ?

[@lzrd8460]

Oh my! To have a job where someone pays you to travel and learn new things! Heaven on Earth! 👏👏🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@user-jw8ye7bv4k]

Just wow🤩, I hope we will get to see the papers after they've dried.

[@mleon7339]

One of your best videos yet! Outstanding on your presentation & content! And your chice of colors... BRAVISSIMO!!!

[@Lisatwade]

Travel more and show us more of the world-wide exquisite craftsmanship and arts. Such a treat!

[@daCubanaqt]

Omg the way she pulled that paper through the metal! Absolutely amazing. I didn’t realize she was transferring the paint to the paper 😮 What skill!! Brava.

[@L.R.Nichols]

The peacock paper! Wow!!

[@anansue]

I gasped at Laetitias work❤

[@hughcampbell-ww3bf]

I clicked Thumbs Up as soon as the second shot appeared.

[@colleenm9188]

Rajiv, thank you for this session. I love these papers and to see how they are created is truly marvelous. I've tried the Chinese/Japanese marbling with fewer colors. I held my breath as you were placing the paper on the water! You created something beautiful!

[@mosimosi630]

I just love Rajiv and everything he does

[@CMurrayinFL]

That was fascinating to watch. I was holding my breath for you while you laid the paper down.

[@alexandrabegg5522]

Such beautiful papers! thanks for showing us this - the tension was real:)

[@doyeworrell1680]

I was in Florence last week, thank you for highlighting the amazing talent of this Lady. I think you did a great job 👏 on your paper.

[@arlindtheodhori2533]

Thank you for the amazing content Rajiv

[@sandraleschettini1152]

Even the music is evocative of the old Italian countryside. I love it

[@rajivsurendra]

Thank you!

[@louisedasilva6046]

Thank you for this incredible video. I really enjoyed watching this talented lady work.

[@KLargo-z3s]

when you go to Europe, there is a master class on every single corner. Pretty sure Raj might move there in couple of years, after getting tired of NY.

[@johnacsyen]

Thanks Rajiv. It's a beautiful process and I love the shop too. So quaint.

[@lindajanke6194]

How can we ever thank you for bringing us along on this wonderful, colorful, multicultural journey? For 38 minutes I was absolutely mesmerized!

[@mskimlouise]

Well said.

[@yrenecedeno2177]

This youngan is soooo talented, fine, intelligent, educated, my Gosh, everything!!

[@br6480]

Wow! The papers are absolutely spectacular. Beautiful job Rajiv with your crash course on the peacock pattern.

[@maryannguess7115]

Oh RAJ😊, BELLISMO.PERFECTO ON YOUR MARBLING❤WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.. AWESOME JOB.FLORENCE IS SO BEAUTIFUL...TY for sharing this experience...carry on with your artwork...you learned from a master❤ciao...big hugs...❤

[@ScottJoplin-ou9bd]

Rajiv - you're not allowed to have your guns out blazing like that in Italy. Thanks for another amazing video - keep it up! You are living your best life, and we're all getting to enjoy it with you :-)

[@stucklescrafter5712]

Ein Grund mehr Florenz zu besuchen. Wunderschöne Kunst!

[@brooklynbabe3727]

I just returned from France, where I spent time making confiture with my family. So good!

[@SonjaGeier-k4g]

Danke, lieber Rajiv! Deine Videos zeigen, wie schön das Leben ist!!! Deine Sonja aus Stuttgart

[@rajivsurendra]

Danke dir, Sonja!

[@julieschnorenberg5370]

Oh! That was fantastic! I did some paper marbling in art school! So wonderful to have a lesson from a Master! I studied 1986-1988, so same time as she began.Loved it!

[@YourItalianTeacher]

Thank you for sharing your adventures in Florence with us, today I learned something new and wonderful about my country. Marco and aunt Letizia are also fantastic! You did a great job, I was holding my breath in the final phase... Bravissimo Rajiv 😊

[@rajivsurendra]

Their whole family has been so welcoming and genuinely loving. I feel so lucky to have met them.

[@Beb369]

Thank you for sharing the fun.

[@erinturingan2919]

This video makes me so happy to see! After watching your Florence journey last year I went to the same bookbinding place you got your anatomy book and also did my own marbling session there to make my own to take home! I still haven’t figured out how to use it yet, but someday i will bind a book with it. Thank you for creating all of these pieces of art and joy.

[@rajivsurendra]

That's so wonderful! I was with Marco today and he was telling me how happy he is when people come in the shop and say they discovered it through me.

[@mariannegoins3610]

Thank you for the Italian videos. They have been awesome.

[@jomarielopez2229]

I was holding my breath, too!!! Love watching this technique. The paper is just gorgeous!!!! The colors you chose were beautiful! I want to try it too!

[@rajivsurendra]

Thanks!

[@gracenote100]

Wow! I tried marbling on a small scale once. It was messy, but your teacher made it look so easy. Stunning results, including your piece, Rajiv. Now I want to see this shop for myself.😊

[@kaktusdesiberie7196]

I never liked these patterns. Today I have learned to love them. The colour scheme you chose is gorgeous ❤️

[@ginabadeaux9319]

i had to say to you ,that i loved this video so much ,thank you

[@jeanetterule5420]

Leave the camera right there for the next year!!! Tell that dear woman I absolutely love her. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ what breathtaking beauty!! 🖤💙🩵🩷❤️🧡💛🩶💜💙🩵🩷❤️🧡💛💚🖤💜💙🩵🩷❤️🧡💛💚💜💙🩵🩷❤️🧡💛💚💗💗💗💗💓💗💓💗💓WOW!!!

[@katehoole8058]

What a wonderful teacher! especially how she showed you how to lay the paper down

[@LifeInBama]

That was cool. I was holding my breath in anticipation.

[@stefs3460]

This was so interesting! Especially about how the weather affects the outcome and how different colors weigh different in the liquid

[@DJKBrooklyn]

I didn't know I could hold me breath for 38:14. Beautiful!

[@Shewhiz99]

Was that how long that was?! 😮 It felt like it went so fast!😂

[@mariannedressler6784]

You have the most beautiful energy! I enjoyed seeing your treasures ❤

[@carlarivas1238]

This was stunning Rajiv. Thanks so much. I love learning new things from you.

[@jengirl2]

I love marbled paper so much. What a treat to see a master at work.

[@mdm1210]

Absolutely wonderful. Thank you Rajiv, for sharing your curiosity and joy... and thank you to the wonderful Italian folks for, so generously, sharing their skills... a joy to watch 🙂

[@kaktusdesiberie7196]

It makes me happy to see you have these experiences. Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@TheDabshear]

Bellisimo! So wonderful to watch with my morning coffee here in Los Angeles!

[@cathyphegley7848]

This was fascinating to watch! And I was so nervous for you. But you did a great job!🦋

[@FourSisters]

What a lovely shop and beautiful papers

[@montesierra717]

What an amazing experience for you! Thanks for showing us that beauty.

[@theresarose1052]

What an amazing craft

[@beverlyness7954]

Rajiv you did such a good job for your first try on camera. Excellent!

[@borge2014]

Leticia is a treasure to watch, what a charming atelier that is. Great design Rajiv, love the colors you chose so much class.

[@elizabethglenbentley7882]

Great experience, Rajiv, not only for you but for me too, holding my breath in anticipation 😢😅😅 Grazie mille.

[@Muffy.from-Oz]

Rajiv, I held my breath through that entire process. I am now purple in the face. I used to do this with my students at high school, with Ox Gall and oil paint on water, just as a fun thing at the end of printing sessions. Some fun results but nothing as magnificent as this. Che Balissimo! What a treasure Leitizia is. Thank you yet again. I now so want to go back to Italy.

[@orisarijose]

I will take a class there with her, I wish for that one day! Loved it

[@NWPARetiree]

Thank you Rajiv! Thank you camera person! Thank you Marco and Leticia!!! ❤

[@auntiemame7076]

Rajiv, these videos are fabulous. It would be great to see you rewarded with more viewers and compensation. You could sell them or broadcast them on other channels. I want so many good things for you! And thank you for the joy you bring into my day

[@rajivsurendra]

Thank you ;-)

[@tanairigonzalez9793]

I had so much fun watching this video!

[@janetsumali276]

Wow…absolutely beautiful work of art. This was the highlight of my day. Thanks for sharing Rajiv. Sending you much love from Canada.

[@rajivsurendra]

Thanks for watching, Janet.

[@emilymcintosh6953]

Beautiful and great to watch - plus how passionate they are with their craft is joyous to see ❤

[@DonnaMull]

I love your videos, you have such respect for good craftsmanship and the craftsman

[@DarlaPenados-rp1ss]

Wow! That looked like so much fun 👍they were all beautiful 🦋

[@lrogers707]

loved the shades of blue, green, etc...always interesting to view your videos. thank you

[@marijabu]

Wonderful demonstration. Beautiful shop and such skilled artisans. Marbling is so organic, I have found that the weather plays a big role. I have had terrible results on dry windy days but managed to make beautiful papers with the same paints and size on humid and rainy days. I now schedule my marbling sessions by the forecast, or the season, so as not to waste materials. I have not marbled in a while but have planned to do several sessions in the Northeast USA Autumn months. I use the papers in my artwork and love to have some inventory on hand for any project I might choose to do. Your video has inspired me to get some work done and I can't wait to see your future marbling successes. Thank you for appreciating these exquisite artisan skills and striving to keep them alive.

[@DwarfDragonwulf]

Thank you, Rajiv, and these wonderful people, I didn't get their names.

[@francineschnereger8246]

Hurrah!! You did it!

[@francineschnereger8246]

Did you say there is algae in the water?

[@judithstonier9872]

That was fascinating the colours and the end results were beautiful thank you for showing it to us ❤