Today's blog comes from Candace Weir, Central Library staff:

There are people who can use a paint roller and not end up with more paint on them than whatever it is that they are painting. For those of us afflicted with the “covered in paint” handicap, a book on faux finishing could turn a behavioral quirk into something constructive. All it takes is a little creativity and some paint.

Designer Faux Finishing: Ideas and Inspiration for Sophisticated Surfaces by Victor DeMasi lives up to its title. The examples provided may not be for the faint hearted; but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Some of the finished examples remind me of Roman trompe l’oeil. The Met in New York has great examples of this type of wall art.

On a more practical side, It’s Faux Easy by Gary Lord starts out with a number of finishes that catch the light in intriguing ways. He demonstrates techniques starting with the simple layering of colour that is finished using cheesecloth, as well as more complicated techniques such as embossed stenciling. In each case, in this well-laid-out book, the materials list is followed by photos of the colour palettes and then step-by-step instructions. Watch the following video for a quick glimpse of Gary Lord in action.

Decorative Painting Techniques for Walls, Floors, Ceilings and Furniture by Elise C. Kinkead and Gail E. McCauley is another great source. There are loads of examples of what can be done using paints and stains to transform just about anything in the house.

Now, when you are covered ear to ear with multicoloured flecks, you will have something to show for it.

-Candace