Faux Finish Marble Painting Technique

Clean the surface to remove all dust and debris. Use a damp rag to wipe down the surface. Remove heavy waxes or oils with an all-purpose cleaner. Allow to dry.

Basecoat the surface using satin latex paint. Roll on the paint with a mini foam roller. The foam roller will not leave any pattern or texture on the surface. The main underlying color of your marble is the basecoat. Allow to dry about four hours.

Mix together one part latex paint and two parts glaze in a small container and stir with a wooden paint stick, until the mixture is a uniform color. The latex paint should be two shades lighter or darker than the basecoat color. Brush the mixture onto the surface with a chip brush. Use a terry towel and dab the glaze mixture around until a transparent uneven coloration forms. This layer looks similar to watercolor. Instead of a terry towel, you may also try pouncing the glaze with a damp sea sponge or crumpled-up plastic bag or tissue paper. Allow the glaze to dry for 24 hours.

Use a small liner brush and glaze paint mixture to create veins in the marble. Use the same 1:2 ratio, but choose a different color of paint. The veins may be lighter or darker than the color on the surface. Add a bit of glaze so the paint glides on the surface. Use a very loose hand to create uneven marble veins. While still wet, lightly brush the veins with a badger brush to soften them. Work the badger brush back in forth, left and right over the painted veins. Add veins in a second color for additional dimension. Allow to dry 24 hours.

Roll on a coat or two of clear polyurethane for additional protection. Choose the type of surface finish you desire when picking out the clear coat. Surface finishes vary from flat to high gloss.