Trompe L'Oeil Murals Using Stencils

I have a lot of creative energy and when I decided to try theorem stencilling, I bought several different books. However, this one book is the one that I constantly refer to to help me with my projects. It is clear and easy to follow with good instructions and pictures. If you are just starting out, this is the first book to buy. I also recommend her videos, which are the best on the market.

If Trompe L'Oeil is the style you wish to achieve in your art, this is the book for you. The goal of this style of painting is to "fool the eye" give the impression that what you are seeing has a physical form. By the creative use of stencils, you can achieve a 3D look on a flat surface by building up color at the edges of objects. This book contains so much. Not only does it help you understand the principles of trompe L'oeil, but it opens up a whole new world by the creative use of stencils. If the style you wish to achieve is more like fine art, this book can show you ways of stenciling that will amaze you. There is so much more to stenciling than our misconceptions tell us there is. Melanie is one of those gifted human beings that not only can paint wonderful murals, but she can break it down in steps for the rest of us to understand. Most books I buy on the subject do not comtain the necessary how to's, this one does. If I could only keep one book on the subject.. this would be the one.

There are many books out there prefessing to show the reader how to paint in the trompe l'oeil method, but few that really do the job. Most just show the completed mural and expect the reader to visualize how to paint it. Melanie's book really teaches - and in a way that's beautifully-illustrated and clearly written! She takes some difficult ideas for artists (skyscapes, perspective, shading for light source, etc.) and leads the reader through the problem to an effective solution. I loved the way she chose specific elements that many murals incorporate, making the book useful to all of us. I used her stone technique in a public library project and received rave reviews! Thank you, Melanie!

I believe I have about every faux finishing and stenciling book out there. I am a professional faux finisher and stenciler and so when I heard Melanie Royals put out a book in addition to her wonderful videos, I immediately bought it. It is one of the better books since she combines techniques with both stencils (windows, draperies, florals, etc.)and tape (carved wood moldings). She also includes faux finishing techniques (limestone, skyscapes, bricks) and good pro tips throughout. This is a wonderful book for the beginner since it gives clear and concise directions and for the advanced stenciller since it touches on perspective, creating multi-overlay stencils and providing project pictures to get the creative juices flowing for those of us who do this professionally. A must buy book written by a noted Master.

After looking through it briefly in a bookstore I decided to buy. I found that on a second, more thorough reading, there are so many tips and details that only someone with a great deal of experience and artistic vision could describe. This book has it all! From very simple stenciling to the intricacies of shading, shadowing, layering, perspective, mural building and more. The step-by-step directions and project photos are are well written and invaluable, with some humor to keep it fun! My personal favorite is the faux limestone technique - who would think you could create realistic "carved stone" with stencils?! Highly recommended for the decorative artist's library!