Painting Techniques for Making Faux Italian Marble Using a Plastic Bag

Create Background Depth

• A faux marble finish is created by layering a background color with veins and drifts of blended colors to resemble real marble. After applying the background color, crumple a small plastic bag and pounce it into the background. This will create depth in the marble finish that looks authentic. Change the crumpled texture of the bag for some areas and apply different pressure to create additional depth. Let the paint dry for 24 to 48 hours and then apply a thin coat of shellac to the surface to seal it. Allow it to dry thoroughly.

Marble Large Areas

• Create the illusion of a large, solid piece of marble on a countertop, tabletop or other large furniture surface. Cut open a large plastic trash bag and lay it against the wet glazed surface. Apply slight pressure with your hands to adhere the full size of the bag to the surface. Peel the plastic away slowly and carefully, keeping it from touching the surface once removed. When the process is complete, the surface will appear to be made from a single slab of marble.

Soften the Highlight Glaze

• Add your highlight glaze color by applying the glaze to the background with a sea sponge. Before the highlight color dries, use a plastic bag to soften the edges. Gather a small section of plastic bag between two fingers and brush around the edges of the highlight color. This will remove some of the excess paint and make the edges appear to blend. Gently rub outward in a diagonal pattern along the outside edges of the highlight color.

Add Texture

• Apply the veining layer after the highlights are dry and then add additional texture to the surface. Spatter the surface of the drifts you created with the highlight color with mineral spirits and let it sit a few minutes. Then use a crumpled plastic bag to create particles that resemble granite in the faux finish by quickly pouncing a small surface of crumpled plastic onto the mineral spirits. Pouncing once prevents smearing or feathering the color and creates tiny mineral-like deposits.