Cracks in tumbled marble give a painting a timeworn look.
Stone tiles, often made from marble or travertine, are tumbled in a machine that abrades the surfaces to create a rustic look with a rough finish. Craftspeople use tumbled tiles for rubber stamping and photo transfers. Tiles can also be hand-painted and used as coasters or made into a backsplash or wall mosaic. The porous nature of marble and travertine encourages absorption of the paint, which may result in a softening of detail and color that many tile artists find appealing.
Instructions
1. Rinse the tile with water to rid it of the powder coating left from the tumbling process. Wipe the tile with a cloth. Let the tile sit overnight to dry thoroughly
2. Coat the surface of the tile with an acrylic matte gel medium if you prefer to seal the tile so that it absorbs less paint.
3. Paint your design on the tile. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
4. Apply an acrylic polyurethane sealer to the tile with a paintbrush. Allow it to dry. Add two more coats, letting the tile dry after each application.
