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The Complete Book of Decorative PaintingCover

The December 15th edition of The American Library Association’s Booklist named "The Complete Book of Decorative Painting" as one of the “The 10 Craft & Hobby Books” of 2002. Booklist writes, “Leigh takes the world of folk-art painting, such as tole and rosemaling work, and goes beyond faux finishes to include brushstroke techniques and realistic interpretations of nature and people. This is a bona fide reference on the art."

The book is the winner of the 2003 Crafts/Craftrends Award of Excellence for the painting books category. Click the logo, right, to read about the award.

This book is available through local book-sellers and Amazon.com.

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Sample Pages from book

Because each company makes brushes in their own unique way, I have shown you a variety of brushes from many companies so that you can identify your brushes and learn how to use them. This also enables you to compare sizing from company to company, and learn about brushes you may not have worked with yet.

On the product information pages, we show you the actual products by several manufacturers. Product names vary by manufacturer so you may not be aware of all the uses of a particular type of product until you learn more about that category.

In addition to paints and mediums, I discuss specialty products by major manufacturers. This may also expose you to new products!

multi-loading project by Erika Ammann

One Stroke double loading project by Tonya Mills

Oil vs. Acrylic comparison projects by Sue Pruett, MDA

 

 

In the Faux Finish section, there are step gy step photos of each technique so that you will know what each step looks like. If you are like me, photos are the quickest way to learn something new.

In addition to showing you step by step on how to paint a stroke, I show you with more than one brush so that you can see the stroke painted with a flat, a round, and a liner brush. The brush used will vary the result.

In areas of particular frustration, such as floating or sideloading, I explain what may be causing a problem by showing both the result, and what your brush would look like if you are making tha particular mistake (for example, too much or too little water on your brush.)

In the finishing section I show you, with photos, step by step how to information on things that are fun to do, but aren't taught very often. This is just one of three or four pages showing "how to" apply gold leafing. In addition, we cover Renassance Foil, and brush on leafing projects.

double loading project - round brush

Side loading project

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is Decorative Painting
Art vs. Craft
What This Book Can Do For You

Chapter One: Materials and Supplies
(What do I need and what do they do?)

Paint
Brushes
Surfaces
Wet Palette
Other Supplies
Setting up your work station
Sealers & Basecoats
Mediums
Varnishes & Finishing Supplies

Chapter Two: Color

Color Basics
Color Wheel
Mixing Colors
Hue, Value & Intensity

Chapter Three: Creativity and Inspiration

What is Creativity?
Inspirational Materials
The Courage to Create

Chapter Four: Surfaces

Finding a Surface
Common Surfaces
Basecoating
Transferring a Pattern

Chapter Five: Brush Techniques

Side Loading
Double Loading
One Stroke
Multi-Loading
Acrylic Blending & Oil Painting

Chapter Six: Stroke work

Handling the brush
Basic Strokes
Comma Strokes
Teardrop Stroke
S-Stroke
C-Stroke
Z-Stroke
U-Stroke
Single-stroke Leaf
Ribbon
Multi-loaded Stroke
Create Your Own Stroke work Designs
Examples

 

Chapter Seven: Faux finishes

Basic Techniques

Sponging
Marbleizing
Plastic-Wrap
Lapis Lazuli
Fresco
Granite
Spattering
Rust
Stippling
Stucco
Dry Brushing
Verdigris
Leather
Smoking

Chapter Eight: Specialty Techniques

Antiquing
Glazing
Dry brushing
Spattering
Crackling
Distressing

Chapter Nine: Specialty Brushes

Stippler Brushes
Rake / Comb Brushes
Filbert Brushes
Liner Brush

Chapter Ten: Lettering & Borders

Lettering
Borders

Chapter Eleven: Finishes

Finishing
Solutions to Common Varnishing Problems
Wet Sanding
Finishing All Parts of Your Project
Waxes
Gold Leafing
Other Gilding Products

Chapter Twelve: Classes, Conventions & Resources

Classes
Worldwide Convention & Industry Associations
Learning on your own
Resource Listings

Artists & Teachers
Magazines
Video Sources
Suppliers

Index

All artwork is copyright of the artist (c) Tera Leigh (2001 - 2008) in accordance with title 17, United States Code. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Images on this site are for viewing purposes only. Wrongful downloading for commercial or personal use will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.