 | Deb Drager
owner of Drager Design Studio (D2), began her career as a fashion and product illustrator for a department store. Deb became a certified faux artisan in 1993. From decorative finishes to custom murals, D2 has coordinated projects with developers, builders, architects, designers, and homeowners in residential and commercial settings. D2/E2, a division of Drager Design, offers instruction and workshops in applying and achieving distinctive architectural finishes. You can contact Deb at (316) 269-3600, or by E-mail at deb@ddrager.com |
Interior Decorating
2003-04-01 11:07:00
Making it look like marble
: I see where a piece of furniture or a wall can be made to look like marble or stone without it being so. What is the process? What is the material?
ANSWER: It is possible to transform walls, floors, accessories, or furniture to look like marble or stone with an assortment of paint and coating materials in the marketplace today. Historically, marbling has been accomplished with oil paints, solvents, and thinners because the oil solutions would stay wetter longer and allow the craftsman time to manipulate the glazes to look like marble or stone. Today there are numerous water-based products that can achieve similar results. Both methods can achieve realistic looking effects with the right training and practice. More and more professionals are switching to the sophisticated water-based products today because they offer the artist a healthful alternative, it's environmentally friendly with low VOC's (volatile organic chemicals), and allows for easy soap & water clean-up.To begin the art of a painted finish, a base color is applied on the surface to seal the area to be painted. Sealing the sheet-rock or plaster walls, and the wood, a laminate, or even particleboard furniture elements is a very important step in beginning the process of creating the "faux finish". A properly prepared and sealed surface will allow the other layers of glazes to be maneuvered to the desired detail to imitate veins, drifts, crevices, and texture of stone or marble. The advantage of working with "negative color glazes" (applying the color in sheer applications and removing parts of it), rather than working with straight paint from the can, is that the color remains wetter longer and has more "open time" to work with. The illusion of marble or stone is achieved by layering multiple sheer layers, in an artful fashion, using tools such as rags, sponges, feathers, or more sophisticated artist brushes, such as stipplers, floggers, motlers, or badgers to blend, pounce, or blur the layers of transparent color. To create realistic marble, the art of layering many sheer layers of color, and applying a barrier coat of clear in between, creates the illusion of depth and gives the color a richer appearance. Gloss topcoats give the color a wetter and deeper appearance over satin or dull finishes.There are numerous books, videos, and instructional workshops available for more information on the application methods, tools, techniques, color recipes, and the finesse of creating believable faux marble and stone. For those just getting started with these types of decorative paint projects, it is advisable to practice glazing and blending of colors to get the confidence needed to tackle elaborate renderings of faux marbles or stone.Today's professionals work up samples to prove their methods and color selections before they begin any contract or commission project on a wall, floor, accessory, or furniture piece. There are numerous painters, artisans, and artists, with different levels of qualifications, which offer their talent for hire when considering a custom wall or furniture finish. Look at, and review, their portfolio, samples, and job experience when choosing an artisan for your job.
