We had a treat.  Helene arranged for us to meet Alberto Valese and go to his home/workshop to see him make marble paper.  I had directions to the meeting place but in Venice it is easy to make a wrong turn.  I thought I was going the right way but I didn't see Alberto.  Fortunately Helene had enough foresight to give me Alberto's phone number.  So, I called him and was trying to explain where we were.  He said "Are you wearing a yellow shirt?  I was!  He waved and that was that.  Alberto led us around corners, through narrow streets and before long we were at his place.
Granny and Alberto
A glimpse of the workshop
Two of the combs used to make the pattern
Close up of the combs
Preparing the gelatin.
Stirring and getting some paint
Shaking drops of paint onto the gelatin
Adding a bit more
Beginning the design
Completing the design on the paper
Edges are taped.  Almost done.
Taping the edge excess
Placing the paper on the gelatin
Remove the excess edge tape.
This removes any ink that isn't being used by the paper leaving the gelatin clean.
Pull off the completed paper.
And get the completed paper.
It still has to dry.
Starting a new pattern.  Notice how Alberto adds the ink to the gelatin by tapping the brush holding the ink to another brush.  You have to be quite skilled to get the effect you want.
The process is just like the one before.  However the pattern is much different because of the way it is created.  With the first one, Alberto created a linear pattern across the paper by using a pointed tool that almost stretced the surface from side to side.  The pattern on the second paper is created primarily by the way the ink is applied to the gelatin.  Now it has more of a random marble look.
As an encore, Alberto is going to make a flower rather than a marble paper.
The flower is beginning to take shape.
Now Alberto uses a fine pointed tool, almost like a needle, to draw the flower and color it.
The starting gelatin is the same.
Clean the outside perimeter.
All that's left is to transfer it to paper.
The flower is done.
Lift the paper off the gelatin.
Voila!  There's the flower.
Alberto also does block prints.  Some of his pattern blocks are shown above left.  On the right is another glimpse of the workshop.
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