Customer Reviews

The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes (Crafts Highlights)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the most complete guide to faux painting I have found. There are excellent step-by-step instructions accompanied by full-color photos for each technique. Materials needed, exercises & difficulty ratings are also included.

The book starts teaching the basics of paint properties & color mixing. I was very impressed with the section on painting tools & bushes. It includes a photo, a complete description & the proper holding method for each item.

Next, glaze application, surface preparation & finishing coat techniques are demonstrated. A vast array of beautiful & impressive faux techniques follow. My favorites were the red tortoiseshell tile & mosaic effects.

This author is obviously very knowledgeable & I really appreciated the time she took to share her experiences, explaining everything in detail. The resource list is also a nice bonus. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

After looking through well over a dozen different and popular books on fauz painting/faux finishes this was the only one that was worth purchasing. It is the most complete guide that anyone could find in my opinion. Pierre covers just about every finish imagineable (glazing, crackle, colorwash, patina, sponging on and off, several faux marbling and wood finish techniques, as well as many others). As each finish is covered there is always a complete list of materials, step by step instructions, and pictures of those steps as well as a finished product to help you guide your way. The book also shows finished rooms that are breath takingly beautiful and that fully illustrate the possibilities that lie before you. Additionally, there is information in regards to taking classes with Pierre Finkelstein in New York City as well as the ability to order the supplies through the Pierre Finkelstein Institute (though it is unnecessary since the supplies can be purchased through most art supply stores). In summary this book is just so wonderfully comprehenive and such a great asset that I would recommend it to anyone, beginner or advanced.

Fantastic pictures, wide range of very well-explained step-by-step techniques (marbles, woods, stencil, grisaille, etc).

What I loved most (as a self-taught beginner): 1) The "techniques exercises" at the beginning of the marble/wood chapters, which allow you to gain confidence before you start following the step-by-step instructions and, most important thing, prevent you from creating "horrible looking" marbles or woods, 2) the discovery of the frisket adhesive film for the "pietre dure", 3) the chapter of materials and how you should take care of them (the author provides very clear and detailed information on this) and 4) the veining and line drawings at the end of the book, to be used as reference material.

The book has good learning steps and ample pictures, however, it is not a "complete" faux finishing book. I am a college student who is majoring in faux finishing and I will admit that it is a good book that teaches numerous projects other books tend to forget. It mainly contains marble, stone, and tile finishes. It does not contain simple things like color wash, dragging, sponging, ragging, and etc. So to the new faux finisher it contains some hard steps that without the basics first will be complicated. But to the experienced faux finisher the book is a great guide and I truly love it.

This is the best book available on techniques and step-by-step procedures. The materials needed are available at any quality paint store. Other books have materials impossible to find in the states.

If you are really into painting this book is very cool. It gives you recipies and illustrations for many types of faux finishes. It doesn't just show you how to do wood. It explains the different cuts of wood, how they affect the grain patterns and then provides illustrated directions for about a dozen different exotic woods. Same with marble, semi-precious stone and many other materials.

This is too much information for the beginner or the casual crafts person, but if you are the type of person who wants to know the difference between French and Italian faux finishes, this is the book. A comprehensive and in depth study. One of my painting bibles.

This is one of the best and most thorough books on faux finishing, in the traditional sense, now available on the market. It should be on your shelf alongside PROFESSIONAL PAINTED FINISHES by Marx, FOLK FINISHES by Teles, and DECORATIVE FURNITURE FINISHES WITH VINEGAR PAINT by Russell. In fact, check out the others and add them to your collection of sources while visiting AMAZON as your local bookseller probably will not have them. I would also recommend this book for scenic designers/painters as a basis to your artwork and jumping off point for your creativity. Once you have these basics, all excellently illustrated, you will be able to do just about anything.

What a great book ! I have at least a half dozen other faux painting books - most of which I read a chapter or two. This book is so interesting you want to read every page and practice all the techniques.

This book is well worth the money. After many attempts at the marbling techniques with the other decorative painting books, I finally rated my wall as superb. It was easy, fun, and well organized because the author, Mr. Finkelstein, knows that there are other people who really like to use oil paints. His instructions include both acrylic and oil methods. The illustrations are great reference sheets for scanning, projecting, etc., but these aren't necessary since his style of teaching is flawless.

I've been searching for some time for a good book of Faux finishes. I've looked at and bought plenty. This book is the best in its' class. Well written, well illustrated, and inspiring. Well done Pierre.