Graining and Marbling / A Series of Practical Treatises on Material, Tools and Appliances Used; General Operations; Preparing Oil Graining Colors; Mixing; Rubbing; Applying Distemper Colors; Wiping Out; Penciling; The Use of Crayons; Review of Woods; The Graining of Oak, Ash, Cherry, Satinwood, Mahogany, Maple, Bird's Eye Maple, Sycamore, Walnut, Etc.; Marbling in All Shades.

by F. Maire

143. What material is used in marbling?

144. What appliances are needed in wall work in order to reach their surfaces?

LESSON XXVIII.
THE OPERATIONS OF MARBLING.

145. The laying on of the proper colors for the ground is the first operation in the order in which they occur in marbling, and it is a very important one, too. It will be well to state here that the descriptions which are given is for marbling in oil, as that is by far the best way of imitating marble, therefore the proper allowance must be made for water color work of quicker drying, and therefore it will require considerable speed in conducting the marbling operations, giving the operator but little time to do his work in he cannot possibly produce as good work as he can in oil. Only rather plain figured marbles should be attempted by the students in distemper work. The ground is usually put on all over alike in oil, and usually it is put on with white lead. While that is fresh, if a parti-colored ground is desired, a little of the proper color is worked over it and blended more or less to suit.

146. If the imitation is striated, veined or serpentine marble, while the ground is still wet the main body of color and veining should be put in and blended. The blending in marbling constitutes a most important part, as by means of it veins and lines are made to disappear as it were into the ground gradually, which gives it transparency, and it will look as if it came from the interior and gradually becoming stronger toned as it reached the surface. These effects are all produced by proper blending.

If the imitation is a conglomerate marble the chunks should be put on with dabs of color suitable and of the right size, depending upon the blender to soften them into a gradual disappearance into the ground.

147. While the ground is still wet in veined or striated marble the deeper toned veins, or rather that portion of the veins which it is desired should appear as having reached the surface by a gradual ascent from below, should be touched with a little of the fresh color and left unblended. This is done with camel’s hair pointed pencils or with the tip end of feathers for some of the finer lined ones.

In the conglomerate imitation the chunks can be touched with fresh color left unblended at what is desired should show as their surface point, so that the chunks will show as if they were gradually sinking away from sight to the interior of the stone.