This class is designed to give students a firm foundation upon which to launch themselves into the marbling world. Pietro Accardi will share his knowledge gained from 25 years as a traditional marbler in Italy, as well as the evolution of his style after moving to North America.
We will start with the basics of marbling on paper and move into textiles such as cotton and silk. The class will also focus on pattern development, beginning with the fundamentals of traditional patterns, then progressing on to more complex patterns and on to the grand finale: Overmarbling.
Pietro will give special attention to color theory and harmony in color combinations. In classical marbling, the use of metallics was not explored due to their heavy weight in the water bath medium; but in this class the instructor will reveal his techniques that have allowed him to work successfully with metallics.
The last two days of class will be dedicated to creating larger marbled pieces. To complete the course students will also have the opportunity to execute at least two marbled scarves in special vats.
Materials to Bring
All tools and materials will be provided. Students should wear comfortable shoes, ideally with non-slip soles, and clothing that can get wet and/or stained.
About the Instructor
Pietro Accardi (he/him) owned a Bookbindery in Turin (Italy) for 12 years. He worked for Turin’s main Library, Municipal Archives, and University Libraries restoring and binding documents and books. He also runs his own paper marbling and decorative box making business. Now he lives near Lake Tahoe with wife, cats and a studio. He is currently working for the library of special collections of University of Reno doing restoration work and teaches workshops.
Past Student Reviews
“Pietro is a master teacher! He is well prepared, inspiring and wonderful to learn from and he supports students in creating beautifully marbled pieces of paper and fabric. It is fun, relaxed and at the same time an inspiring, invigorating and creative atmosphere.”
“Pietro went above and beyond to make this group experience feel like I had one-on-one time to connect with him and understand the task at hand. I love learning from Pietro!”
“I loved the chance to play with color and to learn and practice a completely new technique. The weeklong format gave me the freedom of time to experiment fearlessly and make mistakes and learn from them and improve before the end of the workshop.”
Location
San Francisco Center for the Book
375 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Registration Policies
Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class. Registration will close approximately three days prior to the start date of the workshop to allow the instructor time to prep materials for class. We recommend you not wait to register, as workshops that don't meet our minimum enrollment will be canceled, sometimes as much as a week in advance.
Workshop fee
(includes materials fee):
$950
Prerequisite(s):
None.
Class sessions:
Monday-Friday, July 14-18, 2025
9:30am - 5:30pm
If this workshop is full, please click this link to add your name to the waitlist. If a seat becomes available, we will contact you.