The Big Book of Decorative Painting: How to Paint If You Don't Know How and How to Improve If You Do [Paperback]

Jackie Shaw (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This volume clearly and thoroughly explains the methods of adorning objects with stylized flowers, fruit, scrolls, and other organic designs. After a full explanation of the preliminaries (color mixing, brush control, basic strokes, surface preparation), Jackie Shaw walks you step by step through all manner of decorative painting motifs, from the simplest comma-stroke leaf to the most elaborate floral sprays. Each motif is covered in three skill levels, which can be mixed and matched; a beginner, for example, can utilize the easy techniques on advanced-level patterns. Projects are many and varied and include wood, tinware, and glass objects. The Big Book of Decorative Painting is a marvelous introduction to the techniques, and accomplished painters will also find much information that is of use.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Stated First Printing edition (May 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823002659
• ISBN-13: 978-0823002658
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on decorative painting, great for beg, April 29, 2002

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Decorative Painting: How to Paint If You Don't Know How and How to Improve If You Do (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have seen on how to paint for the inexperienced but eager artist. It features an endless variety of terrific projects to suit anyone's taste. The wonderfully explicit, easy to follow and well illustrated directions make creating the projects a breeze with designs for all levels.

The book starts with a list of both basic and "wish list" supplies. It then helps you choose the right brushes and gives some great tips on caring for them. Then there is advice on choosing paint, keeping it fresh and how to tell when it is dry. There is a large section on mixing color and color schemes as well.

The essentials of brush loading, basic brushstrokes and blending are next. The author guides you through each step with detailed illustrations including the best section on creating basic brushstrokes I have ever seen. I found the learning from your mistakes section invaluable in helping me refine my technique. Practical advice and great tips here abound here. Surface preparation is also discussed here giving details on preparing wood, tinware, paper and glass.

A wide variety of projects follow including brushstroke designs, leaves, ribbons, water drops, fruit, vegetables, flowers, lettering, faux finishes and Trompe l'oeil. There are even techniques for working with patterns and information on giving your projects great finishing touches. The instructions are excellent; they are both written and illustrated step-by-step. There is also a large full-color picture of each finished project. In many cases there are also several versions of a project, such as beginner, intermediate and advanced versions of making an apple. I also love that the projects show swatches of each color used and that brand names are not listed for the colors. This makes choosing matching color easier and it saves money because you don't have to buy a certain brand of paint to do the project. Some of my favorite projects include a daisy tray, forget-me-not candle holder, pear saltbox and mushroom sign.

There are helpful template patterns for all the projects as well as a list of suppliers. Whether you're starting out or have experience with decorative painting this is the book for you.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars USEFUL, EXCELLENT RESOURCE, April 13, 2000

By 

Julia S Forbes - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Decorative Painting: How to Paint If You Don't Know How and How to Improve If You Do (Paperback)

We used this book as a course guide in an Adult Ed painting class--it is very well done, easy to understand and contains many wonderful projects to copy or adapt to your own taste. By using a piece of acetate over the "stroke" photographs, or preferably using a xerox copy of the stroke pages (so you don't ruin your book), you can easily perfect a stroke or "teach yourself" with this book. I have several other books in my decorative painting library, but this is the one I refer to the most often. I recommend it highly.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive - something for all levels, April 17, 2000

By 

Rigi (Zürich, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Decorative Painting: How to Paint If You Don't Know How and How to Improve If You Do (Paperback)

I have ordered several decorative painting books and this is by far the best. It builds the skills and confidence of a beginner with attractive projects and still challenges an advanced painter. Step by step instructions are given for each new skill with great pictures. It is comprehensive, well written and Jackie's personality and love for painting comes through on every page. Well worth every penny.