How Marbled Marbles are Made

Before processing, the marbles are unadorned, hand-rolled white ceramic spheres ~ 3/4" in diameter. Marbling is a graphic process. Different colors are dropped onto a liquid bath made of a jelly is extracted from seaweed, which allows the colors to float without mixing.

Patterns are then created in the paints by using a special stylus or rakes, that are reminiscent of the vein pattern in marble. Each marble is dip dyed into this color bath.

After this each marble is rinsed of extra color and left to dry on a grids to the left of the artist. At right are finished marbles. 'Pontils' form at the point on the marble that leaves the color bath last.