A marble pot may be beyond the reach of most gardeners, but the painted finish used on this terracotta pot achieves the same result much more economically.

The method used here to achieve a marbled effect is one of the simplest and requires no particular artistic skill. Paint is dabbed on over the Kleister Medium and the pot is then wrapped and rewrapped in plastic wrap.

You'll need:

24 cm terracotta pot
All-purpose sealer (water-based)
1 inch bristle basecoat brush
FolkArt Acrylic Gouache paints in the following colours: Oyster Pearl, Warm Beige, Pearl White, Carbon Black
Jo Sonja Kleister Medium
Stencil brush
Plastic wrap
Good-quality varnish brush
Satin varnish (water-based)

Here's how:

1 Seal the pot inside and out with the all-purpose sealer and allow it to dry.

2 Using the basecoat brush, apply one or two coats of Oyster Pearl paint to the inside and outside of the pot, and allow it to dry.

Tip: be sure to use acrylic paints, as the desired effect can only be achieved using them.

3 Apply one generous coat of Kleister Medium to the outside of the pot.

4 On your palette, place Warm Beige, Pearl White and Carbon Black. Be generous with your portions of paint, as this helps to maintain the same colour mix throughout the whole project.

5 Using the stencil brush, dab each colour at random on the pot. Remember this technique will only work while the Kleister Medium is still wet.

6 Wrap the pot in plastic wrap. Press it to the pot and then remove it. Use the same plastic wrap to rewrap the pot and press it again against the pot. Repeat until the desired effect is achieved.

7 Let the paint dry for 24 hours. Apply two or three coats of satin varnish with the varnish brush.

Hint: pots for outdoor use should be finished with an oil-based or weatherproof varnish. Remember, oil-based products can be used over water-based products, but you can never use a water-based product over an oil-based one.

Source: Making Beautiful Trims, Edges and Finishing Touches (Murdoch Books)