2/22/2019 Update - How can I paint a building that looks like marble?

Hi Ron,

Krylon makes several stone type spray paints in various colors that look pretty realistic.

You can buy them at Lowe's or Michael's or online at Dick Blicks.

I would just test them first for plastic compatibility.

I agree with Sean. Both Krylon and Rustoleum make the stone sprays and they work very well.

I would use an off white spray paint.  Then use a lead pencil to add "grain" lines.   Use online photos for reference.  Don't overdo it.

John A posted:

 Don't overdo it.

One trick for "not overdoing it" is to draw the color variations and other detail over a first color coat and then do a final light dusting of the base color. This will soften the details and make them look more like they are "in" the material rather than "on" it. 

Does anyone have pics of anything they have painted?

NJCJOE posted:

That looks like a great idea! Thanks - available in silver, black and white.

https://www.dickblick.com/prod...marble-effect-spray/

Try using a feather with dark color over a light color paint.

Bob

 The sprays are easiest. Brush up on your Silly String and spiderweb spray technique. Less is more. A clear coat for polished as many of these are flats (some are 3 part kits, base coat, marble coat, clear [flat to gloss, depends on kit])

Or an alternative might be spatter painting; flinging paint off a brush in a line. Or laying partially cured paint "skin" pulled into "strings".

Or "printing" with bunched up plastic wrap as a print sponge. (paint the wrap, fold and bunch it against the surface. Can be done sloppy wet or semi dry from plastic.

Using water based paint on oil paint or some cured, unsanded, gloss paint can give a similar effect. So can mixing some spraypaints (like Rust-Oleum + near anything else)

If you have a laminate/cabinet buisness around you should say hi and ask about scraps

Ok... Went out to my local bird house today and robbed a few feathers.  I took a scrap piece and started painting. Believe it or not, there are 7 different colors of paint on that scrap piece.  I like the technique and my Wife and Daughter (both artists) like my sample.

My dilemma is... I have a huge building to paint.  When heading back down to the basement, my Wife commented, "See you in April".

Should I continue?  Thoughts???  

Ron045 posted:

Ok... Went out to my local bird house today and robbed a few feathers.  I took a scrap piece and started painting. Believe it or not, there are 7 different colors of paint on that scrap piece.  I like the technique and my Wife and Daughter (both artists) like my sample.

My dilemma is... I have a huge building to paint.  When heading back down to the basement, my Wife commented, "See you in April".

Should I continue?  Thoughts???  

Ron - looks like marble! I would say continue if you have the time.

Nice results.

Ron,   I agree with Sean, looks like a good resemblance of marble to me....  I encourage you to continue and share what colors and paint you are doing this with !   I have 3 of the same stations that are about 50% kitbashed together, so I'd love to see the final results so I have a reference for painting mine.    Chris a

You asked - it looks great ! - continue on !!! - I look forward to seeing the final results

btw - what is the origin of the station ?

It's details like these that impress me over "build quality" pertaining to materials, exacting scale, etc..  Continue.

Here is the front of the left side.  I think I'm going to need more feathers.  They don't last long.

Chris A... I'm just using oops latex from HD.

Bob3... I started with 3 MTH banks and now I have this.  I'm not the first... This has been done before.  But my left and right sides are not symmetrical.  The left is not as deep and will be a bus station.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

Ron

It's been a while but I think I used Krylon Krackle Paint. It's a 2 part operation, spray on the first part then add the color and it separates from the background color as it dries. I used it on this bridge project.

Wonderful use of the MTH bank building / your painting looks great

One thing to keep in mind - typically the "veining" would not run across multiple blocks - I assume you could use a file card as a masking tool to keep the "veining" to a single block

gene maag posted:

It's been a while but I think I used Krylon Krackle Paint. It's a 2 part operation, spray on the first part then add the color and it separates from the background color as it dries. I used it on this bridge project.

 

I think it looks very good, but not like marble. It looks like a failing of old concrete from long term weather exposure. In Michigan you see it a lot of that on old bridges and the like. Sometimes in newer skim coats meant to hide the first layers failures (cosmetics, though our structural limits are actually growing thin in too many places as well)

So I tried something new today. 

I took a mechanical pencil and marked up every brick randomly.

Then I used the eraser to smudge and feather the hard line... with some actual erasing.

Lastly, I used some dirty water used to clean my paintbrush from the base color of the building.  I used a hard bristle brush and lightly dipped it in the water and stippled the brick to further lighten the pencil marks.

Here are the results...  

Ron

I'm getting near the finish line.  

You nailed it!  Impressive!!   John A

👍  I think you need to consider North, and prevailing winds if you want to weather that one. Because of the shape I keep wanting to see heavy rock moss/mold and rain streaking at the left wing and left wall's corner. ...and a door there   ...becbuse it kind of reminds me of my Jr High  

Seems it could be a library, city hall, or station.

How about the reverse side? (he asks as he recalls the early morning chime of the "pitching" of lunch money lost and gained with a leaner against the still glassy kick-trim stones; the docks roof being our only early a.m. shelter from the rain, and the only section retaining the original unweathered sheen compared to the rest of the jr high. This clean knook out back, was the left wings corner to the main bldg.;stark contrast to the fronts same "grimey slimey" looking highly weathered left wing/main corner. (the right wing was the north wing, but n.east, or north or n.west Im not sure of. )

Sshh... don't tell my mom ...or at least tell her I always at got my milk )

 Before you close the book. I'm curious what the right hand wall of the center section looked like before it was hidden by the right wing.  I.e. was it a mirror image of the left wall; full detail & windows? Did it contain any circular bosses like the front? Or could it easily be built without the wings added on? Any roof detail planned?

Ron, your work is impressive. It looks fantastic. Well done.

—Matt

Very nice results and thank you taking the time to document the process and share! 

Really nice results - thank you for sharing your project with us