Abstract masterpiece

A picture of a liquid paint swirl in cobalt-blue with accents of black, red, yellow, oranges, turquoise and teal is where it all started. Daleen Greyvensteyn and André le Grange wanted to create a “one-of-a-kind” marble effect on their wall.

They asked artist and interior designer Sihan Wiid of Mink Design and her artist mother Raag Strydom to work their magic after seeing some of their earlier work in yellow marble.

The mother-and-daughter duo started off by preparing the wall with a universal undercoat followed by Midas Ultra Fine Aggregate Primer.

“On the second day, we applied Earthcote Pandomo, a textured paint, so that texture and cracks could form, which would mimic marble lines,” explains Sihan. The first coat of colour – cobalt-blue – was painted as the overall base colour for the wall with black in the corners and cracks to create depth.

“On day three, we started working with various colours in the cracks to create different marble effects,” says Sihan. “At this stage, we used a variety of paintbrushes, sponges and techniques to create the abstract look.”

Finally, the wall was sealed with two coats of

Fired Earth Glazecoat Clear in gloss.

Says Sihan: “A bold statement wall like this can work in any home. For a more classical or traditional look, opt for earthy tones. If you prefer more bling, include metallic gold, brass and silver in the marbling effect.

“When attempting a technique like this, don’t be scared,” advises Sihan. “Get over the fear of making a mistake – you can always paint over it. Plan ahead and have reference images to look at for colour and inspiration.”

Daleen adds: “The wall is a showstopper and every single person who visits our home feels its magic. We never tire of it. Its movement and fluidity is just beautiful and the colours are calming yet energising.”

There are so many ways to create a focal wall: wallpaper, canvas prints, paintings, photos, paint colours and patterns – let your imagination run wild! – Adelai