The Complete Book of Paint: A Comprehensive Guide to Paint Techniques for Walls, Floors, Furniture, Fabrics, and Metalwork

Though the U.S. version of this British title comes a tardy six years after its original publication, it is nonetheless a welcome companion to the oeuvre of Jocasta Innes. The first two chapters--on space and color and on inspiration--set the stage perfectly as motivational tools to beginning and experienced painters alike. A few of the more unusual techniques, such as cissing (slashing pots of paint thinner onto wet oil paints to produce a mottled antique effect) and tortoiseshelling, appear in the catalog of decorative paint ideas; otherwise, the methods shown are fairly routine, from sponging and stippling to marbling and trompe l'oeil. Most appealing are the brilliant, illustrative color photographs. Twenty projects demonstrate the range of Carter's artistry; not for the timid, they range from a faux fur interior (think leopard spots) to a color burst of a hallway with wall stars and a faux mosaic floor. Complicated directions are somewhat enhanced by illustrations of the most difficult steps. Instead of depending on actual patterns, enjoy this for ideas and inspiration. Barbara Jacobs
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