Sophisticated Surfaces: Ideas and Inspirations from Eighteen Professional Surface Painters [Paperback]

Karen Aude (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2002

Home is more than a simple shelter; home is a sanctuary. "Sophisticated Surfaces" illustrates how to enhance simple shelters by applying paint imaginatively to create aesthetically-pleasing home environments. Rooted in traditions that date back to the Italian Renaissance in 17th-century Europe, decorative artists use contemporary tools and materials to interpret age-old techniques - marbleizing, graining, and glazing furniture, walls, and ceilings. Inspired by early masters, these same artists go on to create new finishes - cracked linens and textured wall surfaces among them. This book is divided into three categories: Faux Finishes, Painted Furniture, and Murals. Each section focuses on works by decorative artists who excel in translating precisely-executed techniques into exquisitely painted surfaces. Beauty and harmony are vital to our psychological health and well-being. "Sophisticated Surfaces" is designed to inspire readers to view ordinary living space in new, innovative, and creative ways.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Home is more than a simple shelter; home is a sanctuary. "Sophisticated Surfaces" illustrates how to enhance simple shelters by applying paint imaginatively to create aesthetically pleasing home environments. Rooted in traditions that date to the Italian Renaissance in seventeenth-century Europe, decorative artists use contemporary tools and materials to interpret age-old techniques - marbleizing, graining, and glazing furniture, walls, and ceilings. Inspired by early masters, these same artists go on to create new finishes - cracked linens and textured wall surfaces among them.

The book is divided into three sections: "Faux and Fantasy Finishes"; "Painted Surfaces"; and "Murals and Trompe l'oeil". Each section focuses on works by decorative artists who excel in translating precisely executed techniques into exquisitely painted surfaces.

Beauty and harmony are vital to our psychological health and well-being. "Sophisticated Surfaces" is designed to inspire readers to view ordinary living space in new, innovative, and creative ways. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Karen Aude is an arts writer and collage artist. Her articles have been published in several regional and national magazines and newspapers, and she is the author of Heather Braginton-Smith, a posthumous retrospective on the work of the trompe l'oeil artist.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (February 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564968731
• ISBN-13: 978-1564968739
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,054,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Painting & Wallpapering

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Trompe l'oeil and Faux at it's finest !, January 9, 2000

By 

Mark Ferrell (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sophisticated Surfaces: Ideas and Inspirations from Eighteen Professional Surface Painters (Hardcover)

This book provieds beautiful pictures of some of the finest faux and trompe l'oeil finishes I have ever seen. However this book is NOT a step-by-step guide for the do it your selfer. I would however highly recommend this book to any Decorative artist looking for new ideas.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful compendium of work by many talented artists., April 2, 1999

By 

Ellen ([e-mail]) (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sophisticated Surfaces: Ideas and Inspirations from Eighteen Professional Surface Painters (Hardcover)

This is one of the most beautiful books I've seen on professional decorative painting. Far more than a "how-to," it provides examples of unusual and creative finishes by some of the most talented artists around. Together, they all present a great resource for ideas on color, texture, the use of materials, and incorporating decorative painting into an allover design scheme. I'd highly recommend this book for professional painters and interior designers as well as the more discerning homeowner. But beware, this is not for the do-it-yourselfer and does not provide step-by-step instructions.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interior Design artistry at its best!, June 6, 1999

By 

Dana Herbert, Owner, Interior Paint by Design... (Avon, Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sophisticated Surfaces: Ideas and Inspirations from Eighteen Professional Surface Painters (Hardcover)

As a professional interior design artist, I particularly enjoyed the section entitled "Faux and Fantasy Finishes". One of the biggest challenges I face is educating clients to the difference between a faux finisher and an interior design artist. I look forward to using this book now as a supplement to my own portfolio in helping clients make the distinction. Until now, I have had to rely on pages torn from high end magazines, but Karen Aude has done an excellent job of including a fine example of all the most requested high end finishes. No professional should be without this book if they want to spend more time working and less time selling!