Today, let’s use our imagination to take a trip to learn about a place that is rich in history and culture; where east meets west; old meets new. Let’s visit Turkey!

For this Adventure in Learning, we’re going to try our hand at Erbu: the Turkish art of Marbling. Before we begin, let’s see how geography affects art:

The art of marbling is thought to have originated in Turkey, spreading west to countries throughout Europe and east to China, India and Persia. A quick look at a world map shows that Turkey bridges the continents of Asia and Europe. It’s also important to note that the Silk Road ran through Turkey, making it easy for art and culture to spread.

In traditional Ebru, paint is dripped onto the surface of water and a fine brush or metal comb is used to create marbled patterns. After a pattern is created, a piece of paper is gently laid on the surface of the water. The paint adheres to the paper, creating a marbled masterpiece.