Drawing marble by hand

Marbling imitates the figure of marble with colour laid over a tinted base. A humble surface takes on the look of fine stone. The time-honoured craft rewards the eye.

A soft base stands in for the body of the slab, over which clouds are floated. Study real stone first. Real marble guides the hand.

Fine brushes float the fissures in irregular lines. A light brush melts them into the body. A varied hand convinces the illusion.

Subtlety keeps marbling believable rather than cartoonish. Real stone is subtler than many imagine. Less looks more refined.

A high-sheen varnish gives the sheen of finished stone. Lower sheens suit limestone stone. Sheen governs the stone it reads as.

Marbling dignifies panels where real marble would weigh too much. The painted stone rewards the eye. Craft justifies the outlay.