When building a realistic set, it is sometimes necessary to paint faux woodgrain, marble or other natural material. For a woodgrain, select two browns close in color. Apply one color with vertical brushstrokes, then immediately apply the second color with vertical brushstrokes. Streak upward with a dry brush before the paint dries. For marble, follow the same technique; only select three to four colors, and apply, using sponges for a less grainy appearance. Use a feather to paint a long, jagged "lightning"-like stroke that resembles a marble "vein."
Theater sets are made to look old and weathered through the use of wet blends that mix several colors on the background. To create this look, wet the surface with water using a spray bottle. Select two to three desired colors, and add water to the paint to make it a thin liquid consistency. Apply the paint in thin coats, allowing only 5 to 10 minutes between coats and colors. Spatter the wet paint to make it blend in some areas, but not in others.
Using a wash in the theater creates the effect of distance in the set. Select a dark, medium and light tone of the same color. Use this technique horizontally or vertically on the set walls. To create height, use the darker color at the bottom and the lighter at the top. To create length, use the darker color at the sides and the lighter color toward center stage. Water the paint down to a liquid, and brush on in three sections. Immediately use a clean, wet brush to blur the boundaries between the sections.
Spattering is a technique that you do by shaking a brush covered in paint. The shaking motion spatters the paint onto the set, and highlights the base coat or softens a large empty space. Spattering is frequently used on a set floor to make it seem more realistic and less open. Some scene shops use spray guns to spatter large areas.