Here's a very lightly read great soft cover copy of the instruction book titled....
Painting Techniques & Faux Finishes
Having never actually painted a wall before, I was quite intimidated by the necessity of finding the right tools and chemical combinations for a satisfactory turnout, but after reading this book I feel confident that the expertise of the authors will make my efforts a success.
Starting with a chapter on tools and materials, the authors refer to numerous clear photographs of various brushes and describe care and maintenance, then go on to discuss the many types of paint solvents, pigments, binders, and other additives, which made me feel much more confident about requesting materials at my local hardware counter. Next they cover surface preparation steps for walls (both new and painted), woodwork, concrete, metal, plastic, and ceramic and give adequate details on paint mixing, estimating quantities, basic techniques for surface coverage. A short section on color theory will assist anyone not familiar with warm vs. cool tones and color combinations.
Tips on mixing custom colors are also provided, and although it's hardly a guide for paint counter employees, it will show you how to achieve a brownish black instead of a bluish black (for example). Basic painting techniques covered include: aging and antiquing, color washing, rubbing, dragging, flogging, ragging, spattering, sponging, and stippling, and also cover small projects using more challenging techniques that imitate the look of tortoiseshell, faux lacquer, lapis lazuli, malachite, marbling, shagreen, and stone blocking. The exceptional photos really make this book stand out among how-to's, showing not only many step-by-step photos of the authors working close up, but many shots of finished interiors with informative but concise captions to fire your jets. Examples of well-designed paint finishes in bathrooms, bedrooms, dens, living rooms, and kitchens show how the same techniques you read about can be applied to floors, walls, cabinets, and other surfaces to liven up your rooms and play with visual perception.
(And see my other FAUX painting book for a good deal on combined shipping!)
