Painting American Folk Art

This is a wonderful book that teaches all the skills necessary for painting in a wide variety of folk art styles. Historical information, although brief, is pertinent and useful.The basics of brushstrokes, blending, preparing surfaces, antiquing, transferring images, stencil cutting, & varnishing are explained and illustrated so that even a novice painter can quickly achieve professional quality results.A materials list, pattern & complete step-by-step instructions accompanied by color photos are included for each of the basic techniques & 11 projects. Conveniently, the degree of difficulty is also listed. Some of my favorite projects are a country tin coffeepot, a putty-grained saltbox, a bronzed tray with fruit, tinsel painted flowers, a Fraktur painted house blessing in a faux mahogany fame & a Pennsylvania-Dutch bird with heart.