Suminagashi: Floating Ink Paper Marbling

The Exploratorium

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In this activity, learners try to float ink on the surface of water to create a pattern and then capture it with absorbent paper. This technique, called Suminagashi, is an ancient Japanese style of decorating paper with inks and believed to be the oldest form of marbling. This art activity can introduce learners to fluid mechanics, viscosity, and surface tension.

Preparation Time:: 5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:: 45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:: Over $20 per student
Age Range:: Ages 8 - 18
Resource Type:: Activity
Language:: English

Materials List (per student)

Tray - Watertight, bigger than paper, stable, over 2” tall, clear or white
Water - Room temperature, tap is fine
Black Ink - Liquid Sumi Ink
Color Ink – “Boku Undo” Marbling
Clear dispersant - Photo Flo
Japanese Sumi brushes (at least two, ideally one per color)
Paper - Absorbent, fits in tray, long fibers/doesn’t disintegrate in water
Ink trays
Newspaper strips
Paper towels
Drain/rinse/transport tray (a cookie sheet works well)
Brush rests
Paper for under wet paints
Latex gloves
Smock
Hand fan

Keywords

Subjects

Physical Sciences
- States of Matter
  - Liquids
- Structure and Properties of Matter
The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
  - Conducting Investigations
The Nature of Technology
- The Design Process
  - Problem Solving
  - Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

Arts and Crafts

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

see
see color
touch

Learning styles supported:

Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

The Science of Art Summer 2008 Activities

Access Rights:

Free access

By:

Henricks, Jessica