How to Create a Marble Effect with Interior Painting

Like decorative graining, this is an effect that is meant to mimic a real material (ie real marble). Often used in interior painting, verses exterior painting, it is useful to have a piece of marble (such as pastry board) to refer to when creating this effect, and even create a few samples before completing a whole wall or room. There are essentially 3 basic steps; applying the glaze, distressing the glaze, and veining. First scuff the area your painting with fine sandpaper. Then apply two layers of the base coat, allowing each to dry completely. In a paint kettle, mix a little raw sienna color with about one tablespoon each of white spirit and oil glaze and paint sparingly over the area with a soft artist’s brush. Next wrap a cloth into a small pad ad wipe away varying pebble sized shapes from the wet glaze. This allows patches of light and dark to form. Last, create “veins” by using the raw umber color with a little white spirit and apply this with the fine long haired artist’s brush. Use the tip of the brush for fine veins and apply slightly more pressure to create thicker ones. Soften the veins here and there by going over them with a soft brush, blending gently into the background color. When dry, use a high gloss varnish to seal and protect the marbling.

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