From time to time under the Local News section we will bring you different features about life in Kalkan. Here is the third article in a short series we intend to do called Hand Made in Kalkan. Watch out for another report in a couple of weeks.

In this Hand Made in Kalkan article we look at the art of paper marbling, or as it is known in Turkey 'ebru'.

This creative genre is thought to have originated in East Asia and found its way to the Ottoman Empire by the 16th century.  It is in essence the creation of a picture by floating paint on water and transferring the paint on to a sheet of paper.

There is a fascinating article on this ancient art-form in a Turkish Airlines SkyLife publication dated November 2008.  Click here to read the article. 

You can also find out more about paper marbling, and see some examples, at this website:  www.marbling.org

In Kalkan, Serap Tor has been creating these beautiful designs for three years.  Serap and a number of her friends attend art classes at the Kaş Halk Eğitim Merkezi in Kalkan (see below).  A variety of art forms are practiced here, with their teacher Meral.  These classes are subsidised by the government.

Whilst the designs are often traditional, every one is different.  The effect is quite amazing.  When you see the paint floating on the water it is hard to imagine how it can be transferred so perfectly on to paper.  As you can see from our photos below it is also a technique that can be used on other materials, and Serap also produces silk ties with ebru designs.

The materials used are the water, in a large bowl; oil based dyes (the paint); and brushes and other implements that are used to carefully drag through the paint to create the patterns.  Some chemicals are also added to the water to help stabilise the paint and keep it afloat.

You may like to know that you can buy Serap's designs in Desti gift shop on Hasan Altan Caddesi, which is run by her husband Cemal Tor.  KTLN also understands that an exhibition of all the work produced by the ladies from the Kaş Halk Eğitim Merkezi will be on display in an exhibition in Kalkan in August.  When we know the exact details we will let you know.

Having prepared the water, Serap begins the process with the first application of paint.

 Below, Serap begins to create the desired shape by carefully dragging a metal implement across the surface of the water.  Can you tell what it is yet?

Below - time to apply the paper to the water.

Below - lifting the paper from the water.  The paint is transferred perfectly.

The finished article is shown below.

Below - some more examples of Serap's work.

And here you can see the marbling effect on silk ties.