Recipes for Surfaces: Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple

A woman that is passionately in love with Italy and all things Italian writes this review. Once I traveled to Italy, I wanted to bring that look back to my home. I purchased this book about 10 years ago and I still refer to it regularly. This book covers many techniques not just those that would apply to Italy. I am an avid do-it-yourselfer and love to do things around the house. As an amateur artist, I take photographs and paint landscapes; I think that this book is a good as taking a class in faux painting. I feel that the directions and photographs of the various techniques are very well documented. The book is subdivided as follows: PART I - General Information Intro - What Decorative Painting Can Do For You 1. Color: The Flavor in Every Recipe 2. Paint and Tools: The Staples 3. Preparing to Paint 4. Mixing Paints 5. Before You Begin PART II - Recipes 6. Metals 7. Stone 8. Fantasy Marbling 9. Reasonable Replicas 10. Textured Wall Finishes 11. Small Surface Specialties and Stenciling If you are not an artist, the first chapter on color is very handy. This chapter is also covered in the first book in this series. It teaches about the color wheel, the colors that harmonize, classic color schemes, and color moods. The chapter regarding tools is also very helpful, but again this is covered in the first book. It explains the difference between oil and water based products and the advantages and disadvantages of both. There is also a nice discussion of brushes and other tools that is very useful for the beginning artist. The recipe for copper verdigris is very easy to replicate. This is one of my personal favorites. Likewise the bronze verdigris is also an easy look to achieve. The faux stone requires much more of an artistic sense to get right than the book suggests. Don't be frustrated if it does look right the first time. If you keep practicing, and look at some natural stone for inspiration, you will get it. I found that much of the difference is in the shadowing and highlighting. The suggested techniques for marbling and extremely are easy to replicate. This might be one of the easier techniques in the book to master. The fresco technique is one that I have used over and over in my home. The author suggests using regular paint and glaze. I found that using lime paint (available at most larger hardware stores) makes a more convincing end result. Regarding stencils I would recommend using acetate and a stencil burner, it works better for me that the cardstock and exacto knife that is shown in the book. I would also recommend that you buy some poster board or use large pieces of cardboard to practice your techniques. I find this to be much easier than going to the wall immediately. Also, once I find a color combination and technique that I like I replicate the process on a small (8 x 11) piece of luan plywood. On the back of this plywood I document which paint colors and glazes I have used and which tools and

Along with the companion book, Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple, this is one of my core reference books for faux finished paint surfaces. Pictures are useful, instructions clear . . . a must-have for the faux painter's library.

This is one of my favorite faux painting books and one I will always refer to for ideas and instructions. Well worth the investment. Great for beginners or pros.

As I look for all my faux finishing books, not one of the books could describe lovely finishes any better or any easier. My stucco and blocks have turned out marvelously...just like the book! Now that's what we like!

I'm an artist (acrylic and oils) and my husband is a painter (interiors and exteriors) and this book gave us a healthier respect for each other's work! It also gave us a chance to work together in a new way. He was looking for something different and exciting to do for his clients and got a copy of this book for ideas on faux finishes. He was so impressed he couldn't wait to show it to me. I Ooooo'd and Ahhhhh'd over it (the graphics are awesome!) and the ideas for our own home began flowing. I was able to show him techniques in color mixing that I'd learned and was able to share my tools (sea sponges and stipling brushes) that he had considered my "toys". Since some of the techniques require two people to work in tandem to do, it brought us closer together. A suggestion: take a sizable box (like a packing box) or some mailing paper and try out several of the techniques in colors you like and create a "portfolio" of finishes. It will give you practice doing them and you can put them against a wall to get a feel for how it will look. J.R.