PAPER MARBLING

BELONGING
Visual Arts
Workshops
For Older Adults
PAPER MARBLING
FEBRUARY 2026
Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Facilitator: Janice Garel
Some art forms feel like a deep breath. In this February Belonging Older Adults visual arts series, Janice Garel returns to The Jamii Hub to guide participants through paper marbling, an ancient, meditative practice also known as Turkish Ebru and Japanese Suminagashi. Together, we’ll create swirling patterns on water, transfer them onto paper, and turn those finished pieces into a hard-cover notebook you can actually use.
Across the four sessions, participants will learn the basics of marbling and experiment with colour, pattern, and gentle motion to create one-of-a-kind marbled papers. Paint is floated on a thickened water surface, then carefully swirled to form patterns before paper is laid on top to instantly capture the design. Once the marbled sheets are dry, the group will assemble a finished notebook with hard covers, a spine, and inner pages.
This series is a great fit for older adults in Toronto who want a hands-on visual arts workshop that’s calm, tactile, and satisfying. You’ll leave with a finished piece that holds both function and memory. Participants can also personalize their notebook by adding a favourite quote or poem to the inside cover, and finishing it with a decorative ribbon if they wish.
These workshops are part of Jamii’s Belonging Older Adults program for older adults in downtown Toronto. Participants register for the program, then can drop in to any Tuesday session that works for them.
Support free community arts
Jamii keeps programs and events free so everyone can take part, without financial barriers. If you're able, you can support our $15 for 15 Years campaign and help us reach $15,000 by December 15 for Jamii's future programs at The Jamii Hub. Your donation moves the goal forward and is eligible for a charitable tax receipt. Donate here now.
These workshops are open to people of all experience levels. No background in visual arts is required. Participants are encouraged to take part in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful to them.
Workshops are free for participants. Registration is required, and space is limited.
Jamii's Belonging Older Adults workshops are sponsored by Government of Canada - New Horizons for Seniors Program, Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Ontario, and St Lawrence Neighbourhood Association.

JANICE GAREL Janice Garel is an artist with a long-standing practice and a generous teaching style. She studied at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica and the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. Her work has been exhibited locally and internationally, and she has worked primarily with silk and oil painting for over 25 years. In 2002, she received the Markham Mayor’s Award for Community Service and has been commissioned by schools across York Region to create murals and painted silk banners. Janice also founded the Art Adventure Studio, offering art classes for children and adults.
Photo by Ghader Bsmar














































