Red Levanto Marble

Rich red and brown tones set-off turquoise eye shapes in this exotic Italian marble technique. Sharp white veins make this an eye catcher to paint on any accessory or tabletop.

box
Durable colors (Khaki semi gloss)
Decorator Glaze (Neutral)
FolkArt Artists' pigments (Napthol Crimson #435, Titanium White #480, Pure Black #479, Dioxazine Purple #463, Aqua #481, Ultramarine Blue #484, Burnt Umber #462)
marbleizing feathers
brushes (Blending Softener 3", Mop brush, Base coat brush, Glaze varnish brush )
cotton rags
FolkArt Clearcote matte acrylic sealer spray (#789)
brush basin
wax coated palette
paper towels

Steps:

1. Mix one part Burnt Umber, one part Black and four parts Napthol Crimson. Add neutral glaze (half the mixed paint amount).
2. Mix one part Burnt Umber, one part Ultramarine Blue and one part Dioxazine Purple . Add neutral glaze (half the mixed paint amount).
3. Add one part Black paint to one part neutral glaze.
4. Base-coat box with Khaki. In a crisscross pattern, add random patches of the first color mixture around the surface. Surround patches of first color mixture with patches of second color mixture. Then fill in any unpainted areas with black.
5. Crumple a rag and dab over red areas to break up the brush marks and add pattern . Use a separate rag for the black areas.
6. Soften texture by lightly dusting it with a goat hair blending brush. Dip a medium round brush in water. Pick up some of the wet paint/glaze off the surface with the brush to form loose oval shapes (eyes).
7. After the glaze is dry, dip a flat brush in water. Blot it on a paper towel and load half of it with Aqua and half with Black paint. Pat the color on the oval shapes. Rinse the brush and blot the spots to dull the color intensity. Let dry.
8. To make the marble veining, randomly brush neutral glaze on the surface. Mix equal parts Titanium White paint and neutral glaze. While the surface glaze is still wet, load the tip of a feather with the white mixture and nervously draw lines throughout the surface. While the veins are still wet, very lightly dust the surface with a blending brush to pull the color into the glaze.