Summer 2018
:
Volume
33
, Number
1
Even after nearly forty years of marbling, Steve Pittelkow still finds it both stimulating and challenging. Over the years he has refined his methods and materials to ensure a fulfilling class experience for students. Pittelkow's papers are distinguished by bright colors and precise designs and they are featured in books and museum collections and used by artists in many media. He has taught extensively across the US and Europe, including The Wells College Summer Institute, Penland School of Crafts, The Morgan Conservatory, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Center for Book Arts, both located in New York City, Asheville BookWorks in North Carolina, Philadelphia's University of the Art, and many other art centers. Of the 100 or so marbled-paper designs, the one that appears here is among my favorites. I call it the fantasy moiré pattern. Movement and depth are achieved simply by agitating the paper gently while placing the paper on the marbling bath. It is an optical illusion caused by stretching and contrasting the paint to make it both opaque and translucent. Plus, it is a real crowd-pleaser in demonstrations. During a slide presentation at Penland many years ago, a young man came to me and said, "Hey, man, I love the way you digitally alter the design." Perhaps I had not explained the process well enough. >>>
