Serpentine Marbling

Serpentine Marble is a faux finish that serves to represent marble stone on any surface that might naturally be made of marble. This process does take time and several steps to complete, but it can be accomplished by anyone who is willing to take the extra time to produce a beautiful deep green serpentine marble effect.

Latex paints are appropriate for the serpentine marble project, but most beginners are more comfortable with oil glazes because they take longer to dry and the painter can move more slowly through the process of faux serpentine marble.

First, select a deep green base coat and paint it on the entire surface that you desire to have the serpentine marble effect. You will need white, green and black oil glazes that should be mixed and ready to use. The green glaze should be comprised of a green tone that is darker than the green foundation of your serpentine marble.

Using the white glaze and a paintbrush, paint the glaze over about 50% of the surface, using curving stokes. Next, use the green glaze and paint it on over the other 50% of the surface. Overlapping of the white and green glaze is recommended in faux serpentine marble . Now, using the black glaze, paint it on the surface in random strokes, overlapping both green and white. Approximately 25% of the surface should be covered in the black glaze.

Using newspaper, press the paper into the paint over the entire wall. This process mixes the paint in some areas, as well as creates a serpentine marble texture on the wall. Then, using a long piece of cheesecloth, press the cheesecloth into the glazed surface as you blend the 3 glazed colors of the serpentine marble.

Professionals recommend using a feather to paint on the veins of the serpentine marble, using the white glaze and light strokes that are random. Be careful not to follow a pattern, as this finish is intended to look like natural serpentine marble stone. When this is dry, add 50% mineral spirits to the dark green glaze and use it to paint over the entire surface. Using the cheesecloth again, pat the green glaze overcoat into the veins to blend lightly. Finally, apply a clear coat of glaze on the surface after the colored glazes have dried.

The faux serpentine marble will appear textured, as well as be a beautiful addition to any décor.