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Painting on water is called ebru, or Turkish paper marbling. Pigment is floated on a prepared liquid, drawn into patterns, and transferred to paper in a single, carefully timed impression.
The technique appears in contemporary Tunisian art as well as in the Turkish tradition recognized by UNESCO. Here is how the process works, what you need to try it, and how to understand the artists associated with the recent Tunisian coverage.
What is painting on water called?
The technique is ebru, also known as Turkish paper marbling. UNESCO defines it as creating colorful patterns by sprinkling and brushing pigments onto a pan of prepared, oily water and transferring those patterns to paper.
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#1 Best Overall
- Complete Ebru Starter Set: 8 vibrant colors in 1 fl oz (30 ml) dropper bottles (white, blue, yellow, black, red, orange, green, turquoise), 1 qt (1 L) kitre, horsehair brush, biz tool, 9x13 in (23x33 cm) tray, and 10 A4 sheets
- Easy for Beginners: Ready-to-use paints and pre-mixed kitre solution allow immediate creation of marbled art without preparation; includes QR code for step-by-step video guide
- Versatile for Kids and Adults: Perfect for home crafts, school projects, or educational fun; fosters creativity and fine motor skills with non-toxic, high-quality materials
- Generous Supplies: A4-sized 9x13 in (23x33 cm) plastic tray fits standard paper; 90g ebru paper absorbs designs beautifully, supporting multiple projects
- Portable and Practical: All tools included in a compact set for mess-free marbling; create stunning nature-inspired patterns and artistic expressions effortlessly
Unlike ordinary painting, the artist does not paint directly onto a solid surface. Colors remain on the liquid’s surface, where they can be moved without immediately mixing. The finished image appears when a sheet of paper touches the pattern and absorbs it.
UNESCO inscribed Ebru, Turkish art of marbling on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014. Traditional motifs include flowers, foliage, latticework, mosques and moons; marbled sheets have also been used in bookbinding.
Which Tunisian artist is featured?
A Scroll video article published on November 7, 2021 identifies the Tunisian artist as Zohra Zarougui. A separate JINHAGENCY report published on June 2, 2026 profiles Zahra Zarrouk, another Tunisian artist who runs ebru workshops.
Rank #2
- Complete Ebru Starter Set: 6 vibrant colors in 1 fl oz (30 ml) dropper bottles (white, blue, yellow, black, red, orange, green, turquoise), 1 qt (1 L) kitre, horsehair brush, biz tool, 9x13 in (23x33 cm) tray, and 10 A4 sheets
- Easy for Beginners: Ready-to-use paints and pre-mixed kitre solution allow immediate creation of marbled art without preparation; includes QR code for step-by-step video guide
- Versatile for Kids and Adults: Perfect for home crafts, school projects, or educational fun; fosters creativity and fine motor skills with non-toxic, high-quality materials
- Generous Supplies: A4-sized 9x13 in (23x33 cm) plastic tray fits standard paper; 90g ebru paper absorbs designs beautifully, supporting multiple projects
- Portable and Practical: All tools included in a compact set for mess-free marbling; create stunning nature-inspired patterns and artistic expressions effortlessly
The available reporting does not establish that these similarly named artists are the same person. They should therefore be treated as separate artists unless a reliable source confirms otherwise. Their work demonstrates that ebru is practiced in Tunisia today, but it does not change the technique’s documented cultural attribution to Türkiye.
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- Prepare the tray. Fill a shallow tray with a thickened or otherwise prepared liquid. The altered viscosity lets pigment float rather than sink immediately.
- Place the colors. Sprinkle or brush pigments onto the surface. In traditional practice, natural pigments are prepared with ox-gall, which helps the colors spread and remain workable.
- Shape the pattern. Use brushes, combs, rakes or pointed tools to pull the floating colors into swirls, petals, feathers, lattices and other forms. Brush construction is traditionally associated with horse hair and rosewood.
- Make the transfer. Lower a sheet of paper onto the patterned liquid, allowing the entire design to contact the sheet.
- Lift and dry. Raise the paper carefully, let excess liquid drain, and dry the print flat. Each pull records the pattern as it existed at that moment.
The process rewards controlled movements but also accepts variation. A small change in the amount of pigment, the liquid’s thickness or the tool’s path can produce a different print.
What supplies do you need for water marbling?
A beginner can start with an ebru marbling kit or water marbling kit. Look for these components:
Rank #3
- Complete Ebru Starter Set: 8 vibrant colors in 1 fl oz (30 ml) dropper bottles (white, blue, yellow, black, red, orange, green, turquoise), 1 qt (1 L) kitre, horsehair brush, biz tool, 9x13 in (23x33 cm) tray, and 10 A4 sheets
- Easy for Beginners: Ready-to-use paints and pre-mixed kitre solution allow immediate creation of marbled art without preparation; includes QR code for step-by-step video guide
- Versatile for Kids and Adults: Perfect for home crafts, school projects, or educational fun; fosters creativity and fine motor skills with non-toxic, high-quality materials
- Generous Supplies: A4-sized 9x13 in (23x33 cm) plastic tray fits standard paper; 90g ebru paper absorbs designs beautifully, supporting multiple projects
- Portable and Practical: All tools included in a compact set for mess-free marbling; create stunning nature-inspired patterns and artistic expressions effortlessly
- A shallow tray large enough for the paper you intend to print
- Marbling pigments or ready-made paints
- Brushes and, optionally, combs, rakes and pointed tools
- Paper suitable for absorbing the transferred design
- A prepared marbling liquid or the ingredients needed to thicken it
Traditional materials and beginner materials are not identical. Traditional ebru uses natural pigments, ox-gall and a thickened liquid; commercial beginner kits generally substitute prepared paints and ready-to-use materials so a first session is simpler.
Traditional ebru versus a beginner setup
| Aspect | Traditional practice | Beginner approach |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Natural pigments, commonly prepared with ox-gall | Ready-made marbling paints or kit pigments |
| Liquid | Thickened marbling liquid prepared for floating color | Pre-mixed size or an included thickening system |
| Pattern control | Brushes and pointed tools, with established floral and geometric forms | Freehand brushes plus optional combs or rakes |
| Printing surface | Paper; marbled sheets have also served bookbinding | Paper supplied with, or selected for, the kit |
| Learning route | Instruction through a master-apprentice tradition | Self-guided practice or a local workshop |
There is no tested brand or universal formula that makes one kit objectively best. The practical choice is whether you want a low-preparation introduction or the slower study of traditional materials and methods.
Can you try painting on water at home?
Yes. A kit reduces the number of materials you must source, but the basic workflow remains the same.
Rank #4
- CREATE MESMERIZING MARBLE ART - With this exciting arts & crafts kit, kids can easily make beautiful marbled paint designs, then transfer to the included paper sheets for framing and displaying! Their works of art also make great, personalized gifts!
- EVERYTHING KIDS NEED - This all-in-one paint marbling kit includes everything needed to create unique pieces of art: 12 sheets of paper, 6 paint colors, tray, water thickener, 2 styluses, dropper, and easy-to-follow, kid-friendly instructions.
- JUST 4 SIMPLE STEPS - First, mix the water and thickener and allow to sit for 6 hours. Once ready, add paint, create a swirling design, then dip the paper in to transfer! This paint kit makes it easy for kids to make works of art they'll be proud of!
- LEARNING IS PART OF THE FUN - With the included full-color Learning Guide, kids will learn the history of paint marbling, how it's been used by cultures all over the world for hundreds of years and how today's artists use this impressive technique.
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- Cover your work area and place the tray on a level surface.
- Prepare the liquid according to the kit or teacher’s instructions; an uneven thickness can make color sink or spread unpredictably.
- Test one color at a time before building a multicolor design.
- Add pigment gently with the brush rather than agitating the liquid.
- Use a comb or pointed tool after the colors are floating to create a repeatable motif.
- Lay the paper down in one controlled motion, then lift it by opposite edges.
- Dry the sheet fully before stacking or handling it for craft work.
Work in small batches at first. The goal of an initial session is to learn how your particular liquid, paint and paper respond, not to reproduce a museum pattern immediately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why ebru takes time to learn
UNESCO records ebru as a skill transmitted through master-apprentice practice and states that reaching basic competence takes at least two years. That timeline reflects more than drawing attractive swirls: practitioners must learn to judge liquid consistency, pigment behavior, brush loading, timing and the pressure needed to place and lift paper without disturbing the design.
A workshop can shorten the trial-and-error stage by showing how a teacher prepares the surface and handles tools. A self-guided kit is useful for experimentation, but repeated practice is still needed for consistent motifs and clean transfers.
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- DecoArt Water Marbling Starter Kit Everything you need to get dipping in one easy kit! This package contains one clear plastic tray, ten pieces of 8.5x11 inch marbling paper, five 2oz squeeze bottles of DecoArt Water Marbling Acrylic Colors, one 2oz jar of DecoArt Marbling Magic Medium, just mix in hot water, Ten marbling stick tools and one easy step-by-step instructions and technique guide
Is ebru Turkish or Tunisian?
The heritage element inscribed by UNESCO is attributed to Türkiye, with the inscription recorded in 2014. Tunisian artists such as the two reported above practice and teach the technique in a contemporary setting, showing its reach beyond its historical center.
It is therefore accurate to call ebru Turkish art of marbling while also describing Tunisian artists’ work with the method. It is not supported by the available evidence to say that ebru originated in Tunisia.
What to expect from your first print
- Colors may spread more or less than expected as you learn the liquid-to-pigment balance.
- Combs and rakes produce more regular repeats than freehand brush movement, while pointed tools create fine lines and veining.
- Every sheet is a direct transfer of the surface pattern, so small disturbances become part of the finished image.
- Paper choice affects how sharply the design records and how easily the sheet dries.
That combination of control and chance is the central appeal of painting on water: the image is designed in motion, then captured only once.
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