Space 4 Art - S4A TV Presents : "Suminagashi" Japanese paper marbling with Jonny Hoolko

1. In this installment of Space 4 Art's S4A TV, mixed media artist Jonny Hoolko walks you through the traditional Japanese paper marbling technique, Suminagashi. This technique is the oldest form of marbling found in the world and has proliferated into many variations found across the globe. Even if not done for the beautiful end product, this process can be a relaxing and insightful one for any artist willing to pick up the brush. Enjoy the simple and serene process with just a few materials from your local art store. MATERIALS NEEDED A dish for water (recommend a shallow and white dish so you can see what is happening with the ink); Sumi Ink; Ox Gall (surfactant); Bamboo Calligraphy Brushes; Paper (newsprint recommended at first, but works with many types of paper). TIPS 1. Tap water from some regions may be too hard for this process to work successfully, you're welcome to try it, but if you're getting poor results, this may be a cause. Filtered water works best! 2. Paper types that have excessive siding (the glues and adhesives added to paper) will prevent the ink from absorbing successfully in the paper. Avoid printer paper and acid-free papers as they will have a lot of siding. 3. A surfactant is a substance that lowers the surface tension of water. This is what allows the borders of the ink rings to remain sharp and not bleed together. Kodak Photo-flo can be used as a back-up surfactant if you can't locate Ox Gall. S4A TV is an online video library of art lessons and tutorials produced by our resident and working artists at Space 4 Art. They share a wide variety of educational art-making videos specific to their art practices and methods. Our teaching artists work every day with diverse communities all over San Diego CA. But when coronavirus shut down normal life and business, our artists rallied collaboratively to produce these videos as an extension of their work. Brought to you by our local artists-in-residence. For more information, visit www.sdspace4art.org