Brush, Sponge, Stamp : A Creative Guide to Painting Beautiful Patterns on Everyday Surfaces [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Paula Desimone (Author), Pat Stewart (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Seeking bright ideas to spruce up your textiles, furniture, lamp shades, and other home-decor items? Look no further than this unusual book. Brush, Sponge, Stamp is the brightest, boldest, most reckless stamping book I've ever seen. A fiesta for the eyes, the suggested color combinations, brush strokes and stamping patterns are as exciting as they are extravagant. Ever heard of using wadded plastic wrap as a stamp? You will find the incredible technique among many others in this eye-popper of book. Suggested reading for anyone interested in livening up their artwork and stretching their decorative painting and stamping beyond the ordinary. -- Somerset Studio, January/February 1999

Product Description
Truly great decorative-painting projects begin with a wonderful pattern. In this inspiring new guide, you will find recipes and instructions for creating more than 30 decorative-painting patterns simply and beautifully. Learn how successfully adapt favorite designs from a rug, a fabric, or the pages of a book, and paint them in the surface of your choice. Find out how to layer color and pattern like an expert; and transform furnishings, and everyday objects into works of art.

Clear step-by-step instructions for painting patterns on furniture, canvas, boxes, lamps, lamp shades, placemats, and much more

Includes lessons on basic brushstrokes, and color selection, plus a twenty-page library of patterns with recipes for each pattern.

Features practical guidance on paint-mixing, basic tools, and creating your own design.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers; illustrated edition edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564963535
• ISBN-13: 978-1564963536
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,433,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From an enthusiastic student of Ms. DeSimone...need I say mo, April 17, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

Having seen in class what you will see as color photos in this book, and having been witness to the steps and techniques required to produce such interesting and delightful art, I can heartily recommend this book for the thoroughness, simplicity in technical description, sparkling creativity and talent, and wholeheartedness that its artist/author exemplifies in her person as a teacher.

Wait til you see her special brand of batik, her uses of printing, and what her methods of layering will yield. You won't want to leave your paints alone! Happy creating!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just buy it!!! It's worth it., July 3, 2002

By	Moon, Sanghee (Seoul, Seoul Korea (South)) - See all my reviews

Very easy, creative and inspirational.
It's not like other books on the subject which eventually make you consult other books. Even beginner like myself can perform the projects easily. And you know what? The results are quite professional.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colorful easy-to-create projects, March 17, 2001

By	Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This book is full of bright colorful designs and patterns to spruce up any object in your home. With so many techniques, you can pick and choose between them to create your own unique pieces of art. The designs are easy to create because they use simple shapes, color shapers and stamping tools. However, many are also elaborate, taking several layers of paint, so they can be somewhat time consuming.

The book starts out with instructions on how choose brushes, mediums, papers and other useful tools. It then explains how to prepare and finish surfaces. It also guides you through basic brushstrokes. Twelve projects follow including objects, fabrics and furniture. Each one includes a materials list and step-by-step instructions accompanied by photos and illustrations. Some of my favorite projects include a Bokhara pattern wall art hanging, a cool jazz candleholder and an English rose round table.

My favorite part of the book is the library of over 20 decorative patterns. Again, a materials list and step-by-step instructions guide you thorough each one. A large close-up of the texture is shown along with several small picture swatches of it a various stages. Some textures include the carpet-liner, bubble-wrap, color-wash, and dry brush.