Ganesh And The Flower Of Life

My latest project is a three headed Ganesh with marigolds.

I started this project in September during Ganesha Chaturthi and spent three months working on it. This is the second Ganesh design I have made. However this design is much different then the single headed full body image of my first Ganesh.


Ganesh is hailed as the mover of obstacles, patron of the arts, and protecter of the downtrodden.

The project required many steps, starting with a large ebru mono-print that covered the paper.


This freeform marbling will become the background.

While normally I save the screen printing for last, this project required a change in process. I needed to screen print at this point of the project so I could have a guide when placing the mask over the four big marigold flowers.


Marigolds are known mostly as a symbol of creativity and passion. However Marigold also helps with herbal healing, and is a botanical protector in the garden.

I glued paper cut-outs down over the screen print. Then I went back to the tray for a second layer of ebru.


The paper mask protects the covered area from the second layer of color.

I remove the mask during the rinse the paper receives after I pull it from the tray. Once the paper dries it's finished




But there is more!

I also finished a second version of the piece.

This second piece took three times longer then the first to produce. The reason being, I decided it is time to take my work up to the next level. I am attempting to do so by embellishing the second layer of ebru with a masked pattern.



I appointed the flower of life pattern for this piece. This popular sacred geometry pattern of unity contains all the fundamental forms of life.


Sri Ganesh!

- In Other News -

I have scheduled a fabric marbling workshop for April 12th 2014 at The Village Gallery Of Arts. *sign-up in advance.

Are you interested in booking an ebru lesson or workshop? Contact me at art@dannyebru.com

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Triangle Time

Take a look at some recent work of mine. It looks like my latest trend is triangles.

This first piece is my favorite of the year so far for two reasons. One, I love optical illusions. Two, the ebru came out nice and clean with lots of contrast.


Handmade psychedelic 3D illusion.

The impossible triangle is made up of four separate ebru prints on this one piece of paper.


not so impossible after all.

This next piece is made of triangles linked together to form a tetrahedron knot design. This piece has a natural glow to the warm colors, and a dark velvet feel to the cool colors. The ebru patterns used are rather simple, but rich contrast of color really draws me in.


How many triangles do you see?

This third piece is covered in triangles. Although the focus of the piece is really on the abstract ebru-scape background. The idea behind this piece is based on old cottage window designs, and the amazing fictional landscape outside my window.


Window with a view?

- In Other News -

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a workshop at a new facility, The Loaded Brush, in SE Portland. It was a beginners workshop that started out with paper marbling and evolved into canvas marbling. The workshops went so well we are arranging more for 2014.


Widening the circle.

Interested in booking an ebru lesson or workshop? Contact me at art@dannyebru.com

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Show and Tell

I recently contributed to the Portland Mini Maker Faire '13.

Once again the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry(OMSI) hosted Make Magazine's Portland Mini Maker Faire. This was the second year I attended the faire, sharing the magic of ebru with Portland's future DIY enthusiast.


Showing off the ebru skills.


Cosmic ebru demo.

All weekend long I demonstrated the diverse beauty of Turkish paper marbling for the guest. I also set-up a hands-on demo area with multiple trays of size so people could try marbling for themselves.


Freshly marbled papers hanging to dry.

Those whom chose to try their hand at ebru were able to embellished a print of the Maker Faire cat logo.


Proud marblers

I even marbled a cat head too.


Psychedelic dapper cat!

All and all the event was lots of fun, and I think a few new marblers were revealed.

-WORKSHOP UPDATE-
October 20th I will be hosting a paper and canvas marbling workshop at the Loaded Brush in SE PDX.


Peace & Love,
- Danny

Silk Road

Whats new? Well, I have recently started marbling fabric.

First I had to build a new tray out of wood that is long enough to fit most scarves. I also added a couple new brands of paint into my supplies. Then I found a good source for silk.


Breaking in the new tray.

Everything came together quite nicely. The silk scarves perfectly captured the ebru's vibrance, and the lines in the patterns are both sharp and bold.


Pacific Blue, silk ebru scarf modeled by Chelsea Rose.

To my delight the silk even captured the smallest details of the tighter patterns. Plus the fabric is still light and silky.


Cascade Green, silk ebru scarf modeled by Chelsea Rose.

I kept the color pallet simple on the first two pieces so they could be easily added into any wardrobe. But my love for color contrast prevailed on this last scarf. The yellow speckles really pop off the blue and purple swirls and provide welcomed line breaks in the black details.


Chelsea Rose "The Space Gypsy" modeling my new ebru silk scarf.

I am really enjoying working on silk. I like the idea of people walking around with my art. Plus I look forward to trying other fabrics too.

Whoa! Check it out, all three silk scarves are available in my etsy shop!


Painty ebru hand.

-WORKSHOP UPDATE- I am hosting my first fabric marbling workshop in August at Portland's Village Gallery. The workshop will be open to all skill levels. If you're interested please sign-up for my ebru workshops in advance by contacting me at art@dannyebru.com, or the village Gallery at (503)644-8001.

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Video Drip Drop

I recently released a new ebru art video!


Still from the new underwater ebru art video.

I placed a wide-angle video camera underneath my homemade clear ebru tray and got the underwater view of me working on an abstract acrylic ebru piece.


Watch my new ebru art video.

Using a water based acrylic air-brush paint I started the video with a battal(stone) pattern to get the paint on the size(water mixture). I followed up with intersecting gel-git(zig-zag) patterns that pull the paint into a series of fine lines. Using a rake, I pulled the paint into a tightly detailed Tarakli(nonpareil) pattern. Then I finished the piece by breaking up the pattern with a few stones. Finally I collected my efforts into a paper mono-print.

I decided to make the video a time-lapse, speeding it up x3, so it wouldn't be to long.


handmade original, acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

I hope you enjoyed this unique peek into my process. If you are interested in learning more consider taking one of my ebru workshops.

My next paper marbling class will be held on July 26th at The Village Gallery Of Arts in Portland, Oregon. It will be an all levels class so all are welcome.

My premier fabric marbling class will be held the following month on August 17th at The Village Gallery Of Arts. Once again it will be an all levels class, so all are welcome.

Please sign-up for my ebru workshops in advance by contacting me at art@dannyebru.com, or the village Gallery at (503)644-8001.


Marbling workshop.

Interested in booking an ebru lesson or workshop? Contact me at art@dannyebru.com

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Knotty Ebru

Everyone loves fancy knots!


handmade original, acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

The Celtics receive a lot of fame for their decorative knots. The Triquetra, a three cornered knot, being the most recognizable. The Triquetra has come to symbolize many threefold balance concepts such as the Triple Goddess or the Holy Trinity.


handmade original, acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

However, the Celts were not the only ones designing endless knots. Cord wrapping and weaving influenced artist and craftsmen in a variety of cultures across the world.


handmade original, acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

In India the Sri Vatsa, or Buddha Knot as its better known in the west, is a meditation tool symbolizing unity and eternity.


handmade original, double layered acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

Thats all the knotty ebru I have for now, but I look forward to trying more knot designs down the line.

- In Other News -

• I am spreading the healing vibes by displaying a few framed ebru pieces at the Portland Alternative Clinic in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon.

• I have an ebru workshop this weekend at The Village Gallery Of Arts. The next paper marbling class will be held on July 26th at the same location. It will be an all levels class so all are welcome.

• My premier fabric marbling class will be held on August 17th at The Village Gallery Of Arts. Once again it will be an all levels class, so all are welcome.

Please sign-up for my ebru workshops in advance by contacting me at art@dannyebru.com, or the village Gallery at (503)644-8001.


Marbling workshop at Village Gallery of Arts.

Interested in booking an ebru lesson or workshop? Contact me at art@dannyebru.com

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Mosaic Moments

This Spring is all about mosaic ebru art.

First I made the illusion of 3D with all those cubes I featured in my previous blog. Now Im playing with the intricacy of sacred geometry. I started with a couple pieces inspired by the Kumo Shibori style.


handmade original, double layered acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

Shibori is the Japanese traditional art of resist fabric dyeing. The Kumo Shibori style is rarely picked up by the average Tie Dyer, but I was always most impressed by it.


handmade original, double layered acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

These mosaic ebru pieces are not actually tiled together, each was made from one uncut sheet of paper. I used a masking technique similar to stenciling to create the details one ebru mono-print layer at a time.


handmade original, double layered abstract acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

The spiral star looks similar, but it was inspired by an Indian design.


handmade original, triple layered acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

The spiral star represents two balancing energies. Emerging equally from the source, the two sides intertwine to create a much greater whole.


handmade original, double layered acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper.

- In Other News -

I have three ebru workshops on the Schedule at The Village Gallery Of Arts.

• The first workshop will be held on May 25th, it will be an all levels paper marbling class.

• The second paper marbling class will be held on July 26th, it will be an all levels class.

• The third workshop is a fabric marbling class held on August 17th, it will be an all levels class.

Please sign-up in advance by contacting me at art@dannyebru.com, or the village Gallery at (503)644-8001.


Marbling workshop at Village Gallery of Arts.

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Dimensional Riddle

My latest ebru project is an optical illusion.


handmade original, quadruple layered abstract acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper..

I have always appreciated optical illusions, not just for the fun of visual trickery, but for the symbolism the illusions represent. "Nothing is what it seems" is the underlaying concept behind optical illusions. Wether its a 2d image that looks 3d, or a still image that gives the appearance of movement, the lesson is the same, question reality.


handmade original, triple layered abstract acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper..

These ebru illusions are not a collage, each was made from one sheet of paper. I used a masking technique similar to stenciling to create the details one ebru mono-print layer at a time.


handmade original, double layered abstract acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) on kozo paper..

- In Other News -

I have just added three ebru workshops to the Schedule at The Village Gallery Of Arts.

• The first workshop will be held on May 25th, it will be an all levels paper marbling class.

• The second paper marbling class will be held on July 26th, it will be an all levels class.

• The third workshop is a fabric marbling class held on August 17th, it will be an all levels class.

Please sign-up in advance by contacting me at art@dannyebru.com, or the village Gallery at (503)644-8001.


Marbling workshop circa 1600's

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Kali Time for Change

My latest embellished ebru project is focused on the Hindu Devi Kali Ma. This was a great winter project.


Hand painted Kali Ma screens.

I planned out a four color silkscreen print made with only two screens. Then made a vibrant red battal ebru to embellish with the new screen print art.


Work in progress - fresh Kali screen print drying on original battal ebru.

Most know her as the Great Mother, Kali Ma, the Goddess of time and change. Often perceived as a destroyer, Kali is the redeemer of the universe. She is a champion Devi that destroys only to create, and what Kali Ma fights is ignorance and well... demons. Peoples inner demons mostly, but there are stories of her on the battlefield kicking demon butt.


Finished handmade original acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) battal mono-print embellished with a four color Goddess Kali Ma screen print on kozo paper. 19" x 24"

Exited by her victory Kali Ma is known to dance on her fallen foes. Kali's trident represents the female energy of the triple Goddess - virgin, mother, and crone. While the sword gives protection from fear. She also caries with her a bowl of blood. Blood being a symbol of both life and death.


This red battal ebru resembles blood.

Kali is always seen with a string of skulls wrapped around her neck, showing a mastery over fear and death. While her crown shows great wisdom and truth.

Always naked and revealing the truth of who she is. There are no clothes that can mask her, for she is pure and without illusion. With wild hair, untamed like uncultivated nature.


original handmade acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) mono-print embellished with a four color Kali Ma screen print on cotton paper. 19" x 24"

The cosmic sal ebru in this second piece was done on a methylcellulose size. It was a bit different from the carrageenan size I normally work with. I was expecting precise control over the movement of the paint, but instead I found I was more of the conductor of chaos as the paint spiraled out of my design and created something of its own. I think the ethereal mono-print that came from such chaos should be viewed as an abstract portrait of the Kali Ma energy.


The wise woman with the third eye.

Om Krim Kali Namah!

~Other News
• There are only a few more 2013 calendars in stock. Get yours at LucidOpticLab.etsy.com



Peace & Love,
-Danny