Jabberwocky
05-11-2008, 09:38 PM
A quick disclaimer: This is essentially the way it's done over at Hot-Lead.org. I made a few adjustments to the presentation, but it offers all those with figmentia another way to do marble. He is way better than I am, so check out his site.
Now to the meat of the matter.
Step One: Black (VMC)
Seems pretty staight forward, doesn't it?
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut1.jpg
Step Two: Flat green (VMC)
Whatever color you choose, on this step you are going for a darker shade. As the floor progresses, I'll add lighter tones on top.
For this step, I tore up a little piece of blister foam like so:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut3.jpg
I keep mine pretty small--just a pinch will do for most minis. Next dip it in the green (or whatever color you choose). Now you look like this, except without a camera in your left hand.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut4.jpg
Now this is important; dab off the excess onto a paper towel. I'm going for very little dots here. If you get too much on the floor it's not that big of a deal, but as with most everything in this hobby, start with less and gradually work up.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut5.jpg
Finally, apply the sponge to the floor. Light touches and try not to smudge or smear. Like I just did in the center.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut2.jpg
Step 3: Pale Green (RMS)
Similar process to the last step, just with a lighter tone. I am hitting some of the remaining areas of black as well as covering some of the flat green. Now is a good time to partially cover those areas that you smudged with the dark green. Be sure and leave both a bit of the black and the flat green showing through. Light touches, don't smudge or smear. Like I did again...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut6.jpg
Step 4: Black again
This is really just optional. If you did what I said and not what I did, your marble is looking very nice. If you did what I did and not what I said, then you will need to go back again with the black and make the smudged/smeared areas look better.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut7.jpg
Step 5: Ivory marbling (VMC)
This is the tricky part. The marbling generally runs in parallel lines. Try not to overdo do it; a little goes a long way. Every 1/3 or maybe 1/4 of the base or so you can run a line. In my opinion, you want to keep the lines very thin. I thinned my Ivory quite a bit (maybe 4:1) with water. Build up the lines gradually. Vary the width of the lines a bit. If it gets too blotchy or wide, take your black and edge the ivory to thin it back down.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut8.jpg
Step 6: Oooh, shiny!
If you want a polished marble look, take some gloss coat or other shiny varish type stuff and layer it on thinly.
I hope this helps, Moavoamoatu!
Now to the meat of the matter.
Step One: Black (VMC)
Seems pretty staight forward, doesn't it?
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut1.jpg
Step Two: Flat green (VMC)
Whatever color you choose, on this step you are going for a darker shade. As the floor progresses, I'll add lighter tones on top.
For this step, I tore up a little piece of blister foam like so:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut3.jpg
I keep mine pretty small--just a pinch will do for most minis. Next dip it in the green (or whatever color you choose). Now you look like this, except without a camera in your left hand.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut4.jpg
Now this is important; dab off the excess onto a paper towel. I'm going for very little dots here. If you get too much on the floor it's not that big of a deal, but as with most everything in this hobby, start with less and gradually work up.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut5.jpg
Finally, apply the sponge to the floor. Light touches and try not to smudge or smear. Like I just did in the center.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut2.jpg
Step 3: Pale Green (RMS)
Similar process to the last step, just with a lighter tone. I am hitting some of the remaining areas of black as well as covering some of the flat green. Now is a good time to partially cover those areas that you smudged with the dark green. Be sure and leave both a bit of the black and the flat green showing through. Light touches, don't smudge or smear. Like I did again...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut6.jpg
Step 4: Black again
This is really just optional. If you did what I said and not what I did, your marble is looking very nice. If you did what I did and not what I said, then you will need to go back again with the black and make the smudged/smeared areas look better.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut7.jpg
Step 5: Ivory marbling (VMC)
This is the tricky part. The marbling generally runs in parallel lines. Try not to overdo do it; a little goes a long way. Every 1/3 or maybe 1/4 of the base or so you can run a line. In my opinion, you want to keep the lines very thin. I thinned my Ivory quite a bit (maybe 4:1) with water. Build up the lines gradually. Vary the width of the lines a bit. If it gets too blotchy or wide, take your black and edge the ivory to thin it back down.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jabberwocky1169/Marble%20Tutorial/MarbleTut8.jpg
Step 6: Oooh, shiny!
If you want a polished marble look, take some gloss coat or other shiny varish type stuff and layer it on thinly.
I hope this helps, Moavoamoatu!