Ken - Marbling

Hello,

I saw some of your online videos and was deeply impressed.
I am working on a reception counter, and I was wondering
how I would go about doing a gold marble with kind of a 3D
effect as shown in the attachment.  I really really need your
help.

Thank you so much,
Ken

Ken

 

You don't give me any idea of the level of skills you have.

 

The photo you have sent is typical of marble, whether it's real or painted, it has that translucent, you can see just so far into or below the surface of the material. You call it a 3D effect.

 

Whatever marble, whatever colour you want to create to be a marble effect it must have a '3D effect'.

We're lucky, the sample has a dark background. Dark colours tend to recede where light colours will advance.

 

If your brief is to copy a particular piece of marble then first find the darkest colour in the sample and paint the background with it.

Find the lightest and that is your final veining colour.

 

Mix a small amount of the lightest colour with the darkest and create a cloud effect, some cloud shapes with hard edges some without. Parts of the clouds must look like they are disappearing into the background. Create a heavy vein on top of the clouding with a colour lighter than the clouding. Create a second vein lighter and sharper than the last and finally, with the lightest colour and only on the last vein a sharp small vein.

 

If it is going on a reception counter then the finish will need protecting.

 

Hope this helps

Fred

Thank you for your help!

As you probably have noticed, I am a beginner.  I just started practicing faux a couple of months ago.  I drew in some of the clouds but I am having a lot of trouble with the veining.  I am working with water based paint and it seems really difficult to do the veining.  Maybe I just need a lot of practice. 

Thank you,
Ken 

Ken
It is difficult with oil based but bloody difficult with water based.
Are you using acrylic tube colours? or ready mixed. It is best I think to
mix your own.
Try and experiment with tube colour and glycerine or KY jelly. Use a pure
sable or kolinsky hair number 4 or 6, depending on the size of vein. Roll
the brush between the thumb and forefinger at the same time moving over the
surface.
If this all sounds a bit confusing then give us a call back.
Fred 

Keith - Marbling

Keith's Question No 1

When Marbling, what is the best paint to use to create the effect, and where can i buy it?

ANSWER

Artist's oil paint in tubes, obtained from any art shop. The artist's oil colour is then mixed with a gilp (one part raw linseed oil to two parts white spirit and a small amount of driers) before being used to create a marble effect.

Keith's Question No 2

What is a veining horn?

ANSWER

A small piece of wood, leather or plastic rounded at one end and used to create veins in marble. It can also be called a graining horn when used to create dapples in graining.