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1) Undercoat or eggshell paint for
the background (dependent on surface)
2) Artists oil paints in umber and varying shades of grey (for the veins seen in
marble)
3) Translucent glaze to create a natural sheen for the finish
4) Brushes - household paint brushes, a soft flat artists brush, soft makeup
brush, natural sponge, lint free rags
5) Glass paper and white spirit
Mixing the paint
The marble effect is created by applying layers of tinted glaze, veins and
mottling over a white or pale basecoat. You then work in gradual variations of
tone to the background color by dabbing on artist's oil paint or tinted eggshell
paint. Use the brushes and natural sponge to break up the color of the basecoat.
You need to mix the paint in the appropriate ratios. For an opaque glaze, good
proportions to work with are:
- Three parts oil based scumble
- Five parts of white eggshell
- Two parts white spirit.
Mix the paint with the glaze then add the white spirit to give a creamy
consistency. You can create a more translucent glaze by tinting it with stainers
or oil paints and then add equal amounts of white spirit.
Six easy steps
1) Rub down the surface to be decorated and apply undercoat (on wood or metal)
or eggshell (on walls) in a suitable color. A well-prepared surface will be free
of splinters or flaking paint. The paint effect will look better if you take
care over this stage.
2) If necessary, apply a further coat to act as a base coat for the decorative
finish. Tint it slightly with grey oil paint and use a sponge to create lightly
mottled areas.
3) Using artists’ oil and an artists brush start to create a random trellis of
diagonal veins across the surface. Traditional colors to use are burnt sienna
and dark grey on pale marble and whites and greens on black backgrounds.
4) Strengthen some of the veins with darker colors, and then soften the effect
by brushing over the surface with a soft feather or soft brush.
5) Use a natural sponge to create variations in tone, lifting off color or
applying more color where needed.
6) To create the natural luster of marble apply a translucent glaze, with a
light umber tint. In some patches, add extra coats of glaze for a natural
effect. Finish by applying a coat of clear gloss varnish followed by a coat of
satin varnish to give the surface added sheen and greater depth.
Luxurious and opulent
Creating your own marble effect is as easy as following the directions above.
The cost of the paint is minimal but creates an expensive looking effect. Marble
has long been used as a luxurious and opulent building material, leaving a
unique finish that can be easily mimicked with a little effort.
The real beauty of this technique is that because the materials are inexpensive
it allows you to try different colors and finishes to match your décor.
Experiment with different shades and tones and try varying the depth of the
veins to really bring the work alive. With a little practice, and some patience,
you might be amazed at the results.
Copyright © The Tapestry House, all rights reserved.
About the
Author: Louise Anderson is one of the founding
partners of the Tapestry House, retailers of quality
wall tapestries and wall hangings.
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