San Francisco Center for the Book

Suminagashi, aka Japanese Paper Marbling, is the ancient Japanese technique of decorating paper with inks. It is believed to be the oldest form of marbling, originating in China over 2,000 years ago and practiced in Japan by Shinto priests as early as the 12th century.

Suminagashi (sue-me-NAH-gah-she), which means literally “ink-floating” involves doing just that! We will explore the use of Japanese marbling inks and various papers to create our own unique, swirling beauties that take just a short time to dry and can be used for a multitude of creative projects going forward. Participants will leave with their own unique stack of marbled papers.

Prerequisite:
None.

Materials to Bring:
All tools and materials will be provided.

About the Instructor:
Molly C. Meng (she/her) studied literature with a personal minor in collecting other people’s lives. An obsession with old notebooks, vintage photos, and every single discarded book that exists, her work reimagines untold stories behind the otherwise forgotten items of everyday. The medium of collage in both paper and textiles is Molly’s dominant form of communicating. She teaches creative workshops around the U.S., and is currently living and working in New Hampshire. mollycmeng.com