Faux Marble Finishing

Clean the surface area with a cloth so that no grease or grime are present. Apply a primer coat of paint with a paintbrush. After the primer is dry, paint a coat of solid base color and let it dry for at least four hours. Typically, for marbling, a light-colored base coat is used.

Place a portion of the first glaze color on a plastic plate. Use a damp sponge such as a sea sponge or crumpled plastic to apply the glaze. Don't saturate the sponge with paint. Stipple or dab on the first glaze color. This technique provides the varied tones that give marble such a distinctive look. The appearance is blotchy to highlight the uneven tone of marble. Vary the lines. They should be uneven, some short, some long, while others are a bit wider. Use the artist's paintbrush to push and pull the glaze gently into irregular patterns.

Apply the next glaze color in the same dabbing method. Mottle the two glaze colors with the sponge or crumpled plastic. Mottling is layering on a color but not covering up the underneath color completely.

Place a bit of darker glaze on a plastic plate. Use the artist brush or feather to apply the glaze across the mottled area just created. Push the brush or drag it to suggest irregular veins. If the lines look too distinct, gently brush over them with a dry brush.

Apply thiner lines or "mineral" marks with the artist brush or feather. The thinner lines can be with the same glaze color or lighter. Smaller veins can be applied horizontally or vertically across the larger veins.

Apply white glaze to produce the crystalline effect along areas where you have made veins. Use the artist brush or feather to add the finishing details.

Apply a coat of varnish over the entire project once it is completely dry, using a paintbrush.