PAINT MAGIC

Books shouldn't be judged if you buy them for purposes they weren't intended to fill. But this book did a great job for that alternative purpose, and I'm delighted to recommend it for book artists, which is why I purchased it. Looking for some new techniques to create backgrounds for my raw-art journals, I flipped through the pages and found a section on using gesso (a background that prepares a canvas or board for paint) and another on stenciling. Each technique has a description of the effect, then includes preparation, materials, equipment, how-to and some variations. There are wonderful photos of the finished result (on walls). Sure, the book includes rubber stamping on walls, but for journals, I recommend Graining (p. 106), marbling (p. 114) and ragging (p. 53). The techniques can be easily adapted and give delightful results.

This book makes creating decorative finishes easy. All the techniques are well explained and illustrated. A great primer for the beginner.

Very informative and thorough. Would highly recommend to anyone seeking knowledge about Faux Painting.

I will start with what was good in the book...there were perhaps five illustrated techniques which I found good, particularly a few wood finishes. The bad news is that most of the instruction is just written and not photographed step by step. Most of the photos in this book are of the finished product.

Antiquing; bambooing; bleaching; colorwashing; combing; decorative painting; dragging; dyeing; gilding; graining; graphiting; japanningh; lacquering; lining; marbling; prphyry; ragging; rag-rolling; rubber stamping; rubbing; spattering; sponging; staining; stenciling; stippling; tortoiseshelling; trompe l'oeil; vinegar painting - all beautifully photographed and described. Makes one want to buy a house and (old) furniture just to do some of these wonderful finishes! Primarily for traditional homes, but this book is well worth having for anyone considering decorating.