Art of Ebru
The name of the unique art!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
History of Ebru
Based on the epistemology the word
"ebre" which means "marbled, grained" and used in one of
Middle Asia languages is the first known name of art of Ebru.
There is no solid evidence stating
where and when art of Ebru started. Though, some references indicating that
Ebru was performed in the 13th century in Turkistan, and moved to
the East Iran in the 14th century. Finally, it came to Anatolia, Ottoman
Turkish, and reached to its final form. During the Ottoman Empire time, many
Ebru artists were trained and their pieces were used in decorating official
documents. Accoring to Barutcugil ( 2002) using Ebru art at the state level
was, “to prevent the falsification of
documents, besides its artistic importance.” So, Ebru art could be seen as a
signature of a person, by means of tis multifarious design.
This art spread in Iran with Silk Road
and it is named as "Abru" (water surface) or "Ebri" (just like
cloud). Later, this art is named as "Ebru" when it spread in Anatolia
with Turks and this word is being used since then.
Best-known Ebru artists
Ismail Efendi
The oldest Ebru master we know in the
Ottomon history is Mehmet Efendi, known with the nickname "Monkey".
In the "Tertib-i Risale-i Ebri", which is the oldest document
explaining the production of Ebru and its composition, he is honored with the
prayer "Let God be with him!" (Barutcugil, 2002)
Hatip Mehmed Efendi
One of the other known masters in the
history of Ebru is Hatib Mehmed Efendi (1773). The Ebru style known as
"hatip", which is acclaimed as the forefather of flowery marbling,
was known with this name because of his wide usage of the technique.
(Barutcugil, 2002)
References: Barutcugil, H. (2002). Ebru'nun Tarihcesi. Retrieved from Ebristan Web site: http://www.ebristan.com
References: Barutcugil, H. (2002). Ebru'nun Tarihcesi. Retrieved from Ebristan Web site: http://www.ebristan.com
Steps for making Ebru Art
Before
the preparation process, gum tragacanth must be soaked in water for two days. So,
Ebru artists need two days before they plan to create their arts.
Step #1 Prepare the mixed water
It is
very crucial to reach appropriate density for dyes to float on the water
surface; otherwise dyes might be accumulated at the bottom of the container.
So, Ebru artist should strictly follow the resting time of mixed water and
water-gum tragacanth measurement.
First, add
3 teaspoons of gum tragacanth in to a gallon of distilled water. Then, mix the
water untill gum tragacanth melts completely. After it is melted, leave the
mixture to rest for two days. At the end of the two days, the mixture is formed
into a thick-sticky liquid, which has proper density for Ebru art.
Step #2
Prepare the dyes
For each dye, make sure having enough empty bottles. Mix
2 teaspoon dyes with one cup of water in the empty bottle, then add 2 oz. Ox gall. Now, liquid pigments can be
used for Ebru.
Step #3
Prepare the container
Pour the gum tragacanth
mixture into the metal container, and make sure that there are no bubles on the
surface. Shaking the container or a flat stick may help dispel the bubbles.
Step #4
Sprinkle the liquid dye
Dip one of the brushes into dye bottle-for this
step dark color can be used- and sprinkle it onto the water surface. One of the
best way to do it is tipping the top of brush on other hand, so paint drips do
not disperse all over the water surface. After four or five times tipping, the
dye must paint the entire surface, which also is the background of the design.
Step #5
Sprinkle another dye and shape
Now, the same sprinkling process is applied with
different color, but tipping the brush only two or three times. Wait a few
seconds so dye drops expand their circles on the surface. Then, with a needle
stir the floating color and shape it into a flower, if desired, or any image. After
shaping the flowers, sprinkle green dye, or any color, closed to the flower
image, and shape the steam of the flower. If you sprinkle too much green on the
surface, do not touch them and just leave them on the surface; they will not be
seen once the design transferred to paper. As many possible as images can be
practiced at this step. If you cannot obtain a nice shaped image at the first
time, do not give up and try one more. As I said at the beginning, Ebru art requires
time and patience, so practice and practice.
Step #6 Place
the paper
After shaping all the dye drops, place the
absorbent paper onto the water surface. Then, gently lift the paper off and put
it on a table by facing the color side up. Wait until the paper dries out; this
process might take up to two or three hours.
Step #7 Have
a piece Ebru!
Now, you are an Ebru artist and you can be proud of
yourself as being one the few Ebru artists in the world! You deserve to have a
nice frame to put your first Ebru work.
References:
Yilmaz, A. (2010). Art of Ebru (Power Point Slides). Retrieved from Ebru Evi Web site: http://www.ebrusitesi.com
Materials needed for Ebru art
- Dyes (2 teaspoon of each color )
Dyes, which is consist of mineral
pigments, are produced from colorful rocks, soil, or plants. It is so curial to
use these natural pigments in order to reach successful result. Mineral
pigments have been traditionally used in Ebru since very early times. Various
colors of natural powder dyes can be found in stores as ready to mix with water.
- Brushes
In Ebru art, it is highly preferable to use brushes made of rose strip or horsehair. The brushes are used in sprinkling dyes to the surface of the water. Thus, various brushes can be used to control the amount of dye touching on the water surface. For freshmen, medium brush is the most appropriate one.- Distilled water (1 gallon)
- Ox gall ( 16 oz. )
Ox gall is a material that changes the viscosity
of the water, so dyes-color pigments- dissolve and float on the water surface.
Without ox gall, dyes would accumulate at the bottom of the container. It also
helps the dyes not to mix each other.
- Gum Tragacanth ( 3 teaspoon)
This material is natural glue produced
from the stem of a specific plant, which mostly grows in Turkey and its around.
Milk, a type of secretion, produced from this plant accumulates on the surface
of the plant. When this milk touches the air, it dries off and turns out small
white piece, so it is ready to be picked. Gum tragacanth can be found as small
pieces at organic stores.
- Metal Container
Any type of metal rectangle container can
be used to put the water in. Yet, its dimensions must be long enough to cover the
paper that will be placed in.
- Needle
- Paper
Any kind of absorbent paper can be used in Ebru.- Small bottles for dyes
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