Traditional ebru art is a painting or decorative art performed by spreading patterns created by dropping paints on water and then transferring them to a surface and fixing them. The word ebru is derived from the Arabic word “ebir” meaning “water”. Ebru art is a decorative technique that has survived from the Ottoman period to the present day. Ebru art has been frequently used especially in book covers, calligraphy panels, illumination works, wall panels and similar works. Today, it is used more for decorative purposes and can be applied to different surfaces such as paper, fabric and ceramics. Ebru art is an art in which unique patterns are created with the trilogy of water, paint and pattern. Naturally, ebru paint has an important place in this art. Since different and unique patterns emerge each time, patterns resembling natural motifs such as nature, plants, clouds and stones are quite common in ebru art. In this article, we will try to answer questions such as what is ebru paint, how is ebru paint used, ebru paint brands, ebru paint prices about the traditional Turkish art of ebru. You can check out our related article for the history of ebru art. (History of Ebru Art)
What is Ebru Art?
Ebru is a traditional Turkish art that is prepared using some unique techniques and is performed by transferring unique patterns created with paints on water taken into a basin to a surface like paper.
The first examples of Ebru were seen in Central Asia in the 13th century and then spread to Anatolia via Iran. During the Ottoman period, Turkish calligraphers and artists introduced new forms and developed ebru techniques that have survived to the present day.
Ebru art has its own unique materials and application techniques. All materials and tools used in ebru art are prepared by the person who performs ebru art. All paints are obtained by natural methods. Tragacanth, which allows water to thicken, is a plant-based material. The natural acid that enables the paints to open on the tragacanth is also obtained from the gall in the animal’s gall bladder. The patterns created by dyes prepared with natural methods on water concentrated with tragacanth are transferred to surfaces such as paper, fabric, and ceramics.
Many types of ebru have emerged over the centuries, such as tidal, taraklı, hatip, bülbülyuvası, çiçek. The most common colors used in ebru art are light green, red, and yellow. The most common patterns are flowers, leaves, ornaments, and the first quarter of the moon. You can read our related article for more information. (What are the Types of Ebru Art?)
What are the Materials for Ebru?
When it comes to ebru art, the first materials that come to mind are; paint, brush, boat, tragacanth, water, paper, and gall. Each of the materials used in ebru, which has its own production characteristics, is extremely important. There is no doubt that the most important of these materials is paint. In the past, only natural dyes obtained from soil, rocks and plants found in nature were used, but today synthetic dyes are also used to provide more color variety.
One of the marbling materials is brushes. In the past, brushes obtained by wrapping horse hair around a rose branch were used in marbling art, but today, brushes of different sizes produced from modern materials are also used. Materials for marbling art include metal rods and combs to shape the paint. The rectangular shaped basin used in marbling art is made of zinc, galvanized or other metals.
Tragacanth, which is among the materials required for marbling, is used to give consistency to water. Tragacanth gum is obtained from the stem of the plant called Geven, which grows in Anatolia. The substance that allows the paint to spread on the tragacanth water without settling is cattle gall. Gall, the most basic element of marbling, prevents the dyes from mixing with each other by creating tension on the surface of the water. It also helps the dyes to stick to the transferred surface after the shaping process.
Paper and water are also necessary materials for marbling. It is important that the paper to be used for marbling is absorbent and acid-free. Since it is difficult and expensive to find such papers, which are among the professional marbling materials, papers with non-shiny surfaces can also be used.
Which Paint is Used for Marbling Art?
In traditional marbling art, pigment and iron oxide marbling paint, known as earth paint, is used. These paints are prepared by adding water and gall and crushing marble with hand stones.
Synthetic paints are also used in marbling art today. However, these marblings made with these materials are not called Traditional Marbling. These types of materials are generally used to encourage amateurs and children interested in marbling art.
