Faux Marble Techniques

Materials:

latex base coat or tinted primer
cheesecloth
white glaze
soft bristle brush
feather
water
gray paint
brown paint
sponge
latex sealant

Steps:

1. Apply a latex base coat or a tinted primer with a cheesecloth.
   
   
2. Dip cheesecloth in a premixed white glaze, then dab it on.
   
   
3. Take a soft bristle brush and smooth out any imprints the cheesecloth has made.
   
   
4. Take a large feather and dip it into water. Dip the feather into gray paint, pull and twist the feather over the piece (figure A). Don't worry about breaks in the line--they look realistic.
   
   
5. Add the brown color, making "S" turns (figure B). Keep your wrist very loose while doing so.
   
   
6. Thin the white glaze and drag across the feather lines with a sponge to soften the lines.

Steps for a black-and-green marbled look:

1. Begin with plastic wrap.
   
   
2. Dab in two colors of green and dab on a surface with a dark base coat (figure C).
   
   
3. Use a small brush with a light color and a technique similar to the feather to add the veining.
   
   
4. Lightly sponge across the veining to soften.
   
   
5. Add latex sealant.