Sophisticated Surfaces: Ideas and Inspirations from Fifteen Professional Surface Painters

by Karen Aude

Home is more than a simple shelter, home is a sanctuary. Sophisticated Surfaces illustrates how to enhance simple shelters by imaginatively applying paint. Rooted in traditions that date to the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1564964833
• ISBN13: 9781564964830
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.9" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Artistic Finishes LLC of Milwaukee recommendation

Interesting suggestions for a variety of wall and object painting techniques. Easy to follow steps using paint & plasters for the beginner to the experienced faux finisher.

Excellent idea book and great for Professionals

This is NOT a step-by-step or "how to" book, which is part of it's charm. This is definately written for the professional decorator or painter, but the beautiful finishes can be appreciated by the novice too. Excellent read and great coffee table book in one.

Wonderful interior design "coffee table" book

This is a great idea book for anyone interested in home décor or interior design. It also makes a great "coffee table" art book for anyone who appreciates fine decorative painting. It features a variety of surfaces created by eighteen different artists. The book is divided into three sections: faux and fantasy, painted surfaces, and murals and Trompe l'oeil. Each artist has a gallery showing numerous photos of their work as well as a brief biography and description of their techniques. Captions contain information on how each individual example was created.I loved a whimsical little girl's room painted from floor to ceiling with pastels by John Parsons. All the furniture by Fischer is just awesome. My favorite was an iridescent pastel chair with a woman's face on it. I enjoyed the bathroom where Entner achieves an awesome texture by using visible brushstrokes and a goldfish pond floorcloth by Dale Wade. I was also very impressed with the Drywall columns painted to look like Italian marble and a garden like octagonal room with lattice work up the walls. Although most of us may not be able to emulate the artistic skill displayed in this book, it is still a great source of ideas and inspiration for anyone interested in incorporating decorative painting into their décor. There is contact information included for all of the artists and photographers represented. I know I will use ideas from this in my own home.

Interior Design artistry at its best!

As a professional interior design artist, I particularly enjoyed the section entitled "Faux and Fantasy Finishes". One of the biggest challenges I face is educating clients to the difference between a faux finisher and an interior design artist. I look forward to using this book now as a supplement to my own portfolio in helping clients make the distinction. Until now, I have had to rely on pages torn from high end magazines, but Karen Aude has done an excellent job of including a fine example of all the most requested high end finishes. No professional should be without this book if they want to spend more time working and less time selling!

Beautiful compendium of work by many talented artists.

This is one of the most beautiful books I've seen on professional decorative painting. Far more than a "how-to," it provides examples of unusual and creative finishes by some of the most talented artists around. Together, they all present a great resource for ideas on color, texture, the use of materials, and incorporating decorative painting into an allover design scheme. I'd highly recommend this book for professional painters and interior designers as well as the more discerning homeowner. But beware, this is not for the do-it-yourselfer and does not provide step-by-step instructions.