How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business: A Guide to Making Money in the Decorative Arts (Paperback)

by Rebecca Pitman (Author) "A decorative-painting career encompasses elements of house painting, interior decorating, and fine art..." (more)
Key Phrases: faux work, faux painters, copier store, Yellow Pages, Glazed Over, Old World (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The complete how-to guide for turning faux, mural, and decorative painting skills into a viable, home-based career! Covering everything from the fundamentals of buying supplies to coping with the growing pains of a successful business, this essential sourcebook provides a wealth of tested tips and techniques on such crucial topics as getting referrals, buying insurance, building a portfolio, dealing with supply stores, evaluating job sites, negotiating prices, interviewing clients, and much more!

About the Author
Rebecca Pittman has been a professional muralist and faux painter for nearly 25 years. She lives in Fort Collins, CO.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581153090
• ISBN-13: 978-1581153095
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #205,967 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #48 in

  Books > Home & Garden > Interior Design > Painting & Wallpapering

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How refreshing!, February 16, 2004

By	Michael Cooper "michael54412" (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews

I've been painting murals for over 14 years, and finding this book has been a breath of fresh air! Everybody else tells you how to paint, how to do a particular finish, how to blend colors, but Rebecca tells you how to make money with all of this knowledge! I think that this book should be the first purchase for anyone starting out in the business! BEFORE you buy a brush! So many talented people fail because they don't understand the BUSINESS of art! I found it clear and straightforward, not full of ambiguous terms and forms that only someone with an MBA would comprehend. We're artists, and she understands that! So many of us are great artisans when we're behind closed doors, but put us in front of a client, and we freeze! Rebecca provides all of the thawing power we could ever hope for.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly Realistic and Invaluable, January 3, 2004

By	Patricia Buzo (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have read the few books out on the market on this subject and found a lot of it very unrealistic, and geared towards "crafters" rather than artists.
This books suggestions are simple and professional, helping the reader to ultimately know what it takes to win the client over. It is easy to understand and even humerous at times. When you finish reading just one chapter you feel an overpowering "I really CAN do this!" attitude inside you.
I also appreciated the fact that it covered both faux and mural work rather than just one or the other.
This is one to have for personal reference.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business, January 14, 2004

By A Customer

Absolutely Terrific! This is the book I had been looking for, to start my own faux/mural business! It answered many of my questions and left me with a confident, can-do attitude!! I had already learned much of the basics of starting a small business, but this was great in that it focused on the business of faux, and murals too. She explained about making samples, went over the whole system of bidding on the job, having the client interview, scheduling, advertising, pricing, referrals, etc., gave some great hints to keep organized, even added a touch of motivational encouragement! Including sample contracts and forms at the back of the book, as well as giving the reader the permission to photocopy them makes this a top-notch business tool! I couldn't read this book fast enough! Now that I'm finished, I can't wait to read it again and really digest the stuff, then get out the paints!