Things to do · Arts and crafts
Try paper marbling
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Marbling floats paint or ink on a thickened bath called size, combs it into patterns and then lifts the pattern off on a sheet of paper. The charity Heritage Crafts lists it as endangered, yet notes there now seem to be more workshops in marbling than in the 1980s.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
What happens in a marbling class
"Marbling consists of floating ink or paint on a surface to create a pattern," as Heritage Crafts puts it. On City Lit's beginners' course you prepare a size from carrageen moss, treat the paper with alum as a mordant and make simple combs, rakes and brushes to draw the colours into traditional patterns.
Courses differ in method. City Lit also covers Turkish ebru and Japanese suminagashi, which uses ink and water. The Minnesota Center for Book Arts teaches marbling with acrylics and four patterns, including stones and nonpareil. West Dean's three-day introduction covers the Spanish wave pattern and ends with marbling a cushion cover and a silk scarf.
The craft reached Europe in the 17th century and was used for book covers and endpapers. Heritage Crafts says there are no big marbling houses left to train apprentices, and names the cost of carrageen moss as one pressure on the craft.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Paper marbling: four Sundays, 10.30am to 4.30pm, basic materials included (June to July 2026 term, now past) | £309 |
| Minnesota Center for Book Arts | Introduction to Marbling: one six-hour Saturday with acrylics, all levels welcome (April 2026, now past) | $147 tuition plus a $25 materials fee; $74 scholarship rate |
| John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, North Carolina | Creative Marbling: paper, fabric and more; a week-long class, all levels (September 2026, now past) | $870 tuition plus $150 materials |
West Dean's three-day introduction includes paper, inks, paints, fabrics, mordant and marbling powders, aprons and gloves; its page did not show a fee when we checked. Its two-day course on marbling fabric, wood, leather and books asks for previous marbling experience.
How to start
- Book a beginners' course that teaches you to prepare the size yourself, such as City Lit's paper marbling course in London (check for its next run) or a marbling class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina.
- Wear old clothes and closed, non-slip shoes, and take a notebook; marbling splatters and classes hand out recipes for the size and paints.
- Buy kit only after the course, once you know whether you prefer traditional size and paints, acrylics or Japanese ink marbling.
Where to go
- City Lit: Paper marbling (London) UK
- West Dean College: Introduction to marbling for paper, textiles and leather book arts (West Sussex) UK
- John C. Campbell Folk School: Marbling classes (North Carolina) US
We opened these links on 14 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is marbling size made of?
Traditionally carrageen moss. City Lit teaches you to prepare carrageen moss size, and the instructors at the John C. Campbell Folk School supply carrageenan and alum.
Do I need any experience to take a marbling class?
No. City Lit's course is for beginners, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts welcomes all skill levels, and the John C. Campbell Folk School says all levels are welcome.
What should I wear to a marbling workshop?
Old clothes or an apron and closed shoes. West Dean asks for old clothing and stout, covered footwear, and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts asks for non-slip, water-resistant shoes.
Is paper marbling a dying craft?
Heritage Crafts lists marbling as endangered on its Red List, citing digital printing and cheaper imports. It also says interest has grown and there seem to be more workshops than in the 1980s.
Where this comes from: Heritage Crafts, Marbling; City Lit, Paper marbling; West Dean College, Introduction to marbling for paper, textiles and leather book arts with Rachel O'Connell; West Dean College, Marbling on paper, fabric and other materials; Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Introduction to Marbling: April; John C. Campbell Folk School, Marbling Classes; John C. Campbell Folk School, Creative Marbling – Paper, Fabric & More. Opened 14 November 2026.
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