Millefiori

2012

Digital Photography, Fine Arts, Photography

Ferrofluids mixed with water colors

Millefiori
Ferrofluid mixed with water colors
The shapes, you see in these image are about the size of a thumbnail. They are created by mixing ferrofluid with water color and putting it into a magnetic field.
Ferrofluid is a magnetic solution with a viscosity similar to motor oil. When put under a magnetic field, the iron particles in the solution start to rearrange, forming the black channels and separating the water colors from the ferrofluid. The result are these peculiar looking structures.

On itsnicethat.com, you can find out more about the project
Here is a small making-of video of the series. What you see in the first few seconds is the ferrofluid resting above the magnet. Thats why you see those spikes, which are caused by the attraction and repeal of the magnetic particles inside the liquid. Then, different tones of water colour are injected into it with the aid of a syringe. The ferrofluid starts to form channels around the colours, creating these brain-like structures.