Decorative Furniture Finishes with Vinegar Paint (Decorative Painting) [Paperback]

Bill Russell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Decorative Painting | Publication Date: March 1999

Vinegar paint dates back centuries as a medium for decorating. Bill Russell shows how to mix the pigments, soap and apple cider vinegar to produce the medium and includes 12 step-by-step projects to learn how to use the technique.'

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891348700
• ISBN-13: 978-0891348702
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful reference for a hard-to-find artform, February 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Decorative Furniture Finishes with Vinegar Paint (Decorative Painting) (Paperback)

I've been looking for a book on this topic for a long time. I had seen some examples of vinegar painting in a magazine and was blown away by the wonderful dimensional effects it produces but the article contained no instructions as that artist called the process his "secret". Well, Bill Russell (bless him) is an artist who's happy to tell how it's done. This beautiful book is full color with very complete instructions and photos for creating the dimensional illusions which are the hallmark of vinegar painting. Personally, I think the results exceed most of the time- consuming oil paint approaches. The supplies are basic and affordable and it's a very health-friendly art form. The effects can be varied endlessly to give you completely unique designs that can be used together in a project without becoming repetitious to view. I'm surprised vinegar painting hasn't become more well known to artists as it is surely the most user-friendly way to create sophisticated faux-texture effects. People invariably look at my vinegar paint pieces in amazement and ask how in the world I did that (it looks like it takes forever--it doesn't). Maybe no one else has been able to find instructions either...

If you're interested in creating stunning paint effects that (almost)no one else is doing, you will love this book. I think this is the only book currently available on the topic (I certainly did look) but it really is the only one you need.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! A WHOLE book on graining! I'm in heaven!, March 2, 2000

By 

dutchq "dutchq" (PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Decorative Furniture Finishes with Vinegar Paint (Decorative Painting) (Paperback)

You've seen all those lovely one or two page articles and photos in the popular magazines about how to do vinegar graining on furniture, boxes, and frames, but they left you wanting more. Well, look no further, for this is THE answer. Loads of pictures with the author working on all kinds of stuff. Lots of different tools to use. Very detailed...this author shares his love for this craft (really artistry) and his sources with you in this book. You'll even want to sign up for his workshop in Philadelphia, PA if you can't get enough here! AND...don't forget to add these to your list as they will round out your selection of decorative painting books/photos/techniques: THE ART OF FAUX by Finkelstein, PROFESSIONAL PAINTED FINISHES by Marx, and FOLK FINISHES by Teles. You won't go wrong by adding one or all of these to your shopping cart. Knowledge is power...and these books give you the power to do great things with glazes and paint!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, the instructions!, January 30, 2002

By 

Suzanne P. Thomas (Colorado, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Decorative Furniture Finishes with Vinegar Paint (Decorative Painting) (Paperback)

Many years ago I was at a stranger's house (maybe the house was for sale or for rent), and I saw the most beautiful painted piece of furniture. This armoire was finished in a variety of rich brown textures, and I asked the woman how it had been done. Although she was the artist, she was very secretive, admitting only that she had used a wine bottle cork to produce one pattern.
Since then I've been looking for a book that would show me how to create these results. I've bought at least a dozen 'paint your furniture' books, but they focused on flat applications of paint. Admittedly pretty, I wanted instead to produce the illusion of depth and exotic wood grainlines that I had seen.
Yesterday I received Bill Russell's book, and this book reveals the secret! The pictured projects are gorgeous, the illustrated instructions are some of the clearest and easiest to understand that I've ever seen in hundreds of how-to books, and the necessary supplies are explained in detail.
Bill uses a variety of tools to manipulate his paint, but not a cork. Yet following his explanations I can see how to use one, both on its side and using the end. Bill suggests making sample boards out of inexpensive cardboard to test colors and techniques. What would happen if I used a sponge? A piece of crumpled cloth or lace? Based on his solid basics, a decorative artist could have a ball exploring the possibilities. But one doesn't have to be an artist to produce lovely results using Bill's suggested colors and combinations. What a fantastic book!