What is the difference between freehand tools and symmetrical tools in water marbling? In the art of water marbling we are floating paint on a gel-like surface and using tools to create a design.
In my experience, a freehand tool is just a single stick. This tool will create a unique and asymmetrical design. I actually use bbq skewers. You can buy other options that are sharper or finer. I think of pottery tools for example. The thinner or finer that tool is the more detailed your lines can be. You can also use speed to manipulate along with your tool. Slow equals control, quick equals extra current or movement.
With a single stick you can manipulate a circle to become a flower, heart, leaf, bird, tree. It’s endless. You can also use that freehand tool to just create assymetrical movement to create a design. Moving that tool along the gel for example in a “S” movement creates a magical design that cannot be replicated.
My great aunt came to a workshop. She had recently lost her husband of many years. I was explaining how we can use the single stick to make a design. Her eyes lit up. She wrote his name into the paint and created the most wonderful design. She was going to wear his name design. Beautiful right?
The symmetrical tools are a row of sticks, in my case nails all separated evenly or in a consistent pattern. This creates rows of lines when pulled thru the paint. You can use them straight, wavy, or in whatever motion you want. The end result will be consistant and symmetrical designs.
The first design I learned was the gelgeht. Using the 1 inch wide nail tool. You pull thru straight I use the edge of the tray as my straight edge guide. Then shuffle tool over half inch and return back the way you came. This will pull the nails thru the center of the previous lines. I remember being awestruck with what those little nails could create. Now years later…I have a collection of tools with nails at differing widths that create an array of designs.
My symmetrical tools have 1 inch rows of nails. 1/2 inch rows of nails. I also have a fine tooth comb called a non paraei comb. The non- paraei comb I purchased. I also have a tool that is 2 sperate rows of 1 inch nails off set. But you can handmake most of these tools. You can use a piece of cardboard with toothpicks and tape or you can use long pieces of wood with nails, always put the sharp end of the nail into the wood. Yes I made this mistake!
One of the “rules” I use for my symmetrical tools is to go 1-2 times left to right and turn the opposite direction with the next movement up and down. If you keep using the tool the same direction back and forth you will not see those movements. But experiment, maybe that is something that you will like?
No matter what tools you use the more times you pull the tool thru your design with tools the thinner your lines become. Every design starts off with those big circle shapes, called a stone or boulder pattern. But as you create movement your design will be big and bold. Then with more and more movement the separation of colour or lines of colour will become thinner. The colours generally stay separate.
No matter what tool you have to water marble with, freehand or symmetrical, test and play to see what design you can make! My personal goal is to always have fun with water marbling!