My Aha moment…
Did you know that I studied art as an adult for 10 years? Longer if you count the years of drawing classes at community art centres. But do you know when I experienced the biggest most inspiring Aha moment in my “art” life? I was in Grade 2, the ripe old age of 6 years old, and my teacher Mrs Stiggins taught us marbling art, or Ebru Art. It is an ancient Turkish technique where you basically drip paint on top of the water, swirl the paint around a bit, and then transfer the finished work onto paper. The properties of the water result in fluid, hypnotic patterns, and I clearly remember standing next to Mrs Stiggins water trough, mesmerised in wonder at the first print she pulled. I even recall the light of the sun coming through the classroom windows, and all the mini desks, chairs and clutter, as we all hustled around Mrs Stiggins for our “turn”.
The ancient Turkish technique of “Ebru Art”.
I loved the way that the contrasting colours bounced off each other, the swirls, the fluid look, and the sense of movement in the patterns. I also remember it being quite challenging in a fine-motor-skills kind of way - I was desperate to make something as beautiful as Mrs Stiggins had just made before my eyes. My art on this day did not turn out as beautiful as I hoped, simply because of my poor colour choices - something I still find challenging to this day!
If you’d like to see a demonstration of the ancient technique of Ebru Art from epSos.de click here . I highly recommend you give it a go!
Fast forward quite a few decades to Uni days when I started messing around with Action Painting techniques with acrylic paint - think “Jackson Pollock” hovering over his paintings. I clearly recall recreating a similar look to Ebru Art, by pouring, dripping, and splashing paint on a horizontal surface in the dusty garage of our rental - and immediately knew that I had to incorporate this look/technique in my own art.
Below you can see one of my current paintings that clearly replicates the beautiful marbling and movement of Ebru Art in the background.
“And besides you breathe differently down here”, Acrylic on Canvas, ready to hang, 122.5cm x 92.5cm x 3.8cm
If you are interested in this painting it is available for sale on my website here.
Never underestimate the value of art classes in childhood. It opens up a world of possibility, creative thinking, inspiration, and joy! And you never know, you might just be exposing your child to their big Aha moment!! Thank you Mrs Stiggins!!
