Floating colours on timeless patterns
- Marianne creates marbled designs on a vast array of materials
- Her work is both historic and contemporary
- Intricate flowers are her signature motif
With traditional techniques and a contemporary outlook, Marianne Peter creates a wide range of captivating marbled designs. During her visual communication studies in Belgium, she became intrigued with the marbled end papers used for centuries in bookbinding. After earning her degree, Marianne delved into the world of marbling, teaching herself the craft and finding her primary niche in specialty bookbinding. "As an intrepid autodidact, I enjoy pushing all the boundaries of my craft," she says. Not only does she restore and recreate historic marbled paper, but she also produces signature, contemporary designs. Marianne works on paper, as well as ceramic, leather, fabric and even wood, each material offering its own technical challenges.
Interview
- How would you describe your creative process?
- My designs typically come about from commissions, happy accidents or my imagination. Commissions often lead me to discover surprising colour combinations and motifs. Happy accidents are one of my favourite ways to create! I also take time to experiment with my own ideas.
- What is one of your more unusual projects?
- I worked with a costume designer to marble fabric for the Canal+ series Babylon Berlin. I was assigned costumes and a colour palette, and I had to figure out how to use marbling techniques to create motifs that would match the show's Art Deco context.
- How do you view the future of Marbling ?
- It is important for me to pass on the skills, so I offer regular two-day workshops. Applying marbling to new mediums and surfaces opens opportunities to enjoy this beautiful craft.
- What next project will you be focusing on?
- I am always looking for ways to learn the full scope of the craft's history and to test new approaches. Collaborations with other artisans across mediums and cultures have really enriched my work. I plan to pursue more of these exchanges in the coming years.
Marianne Peter is a master artisan: she began her career in 1984 and she started teaching in 1990
Works
Where
Marianne Peter
