Folk Finishes: What They Are and How to Create Them

By Rubens Teles

In recent years, painted furniture finishes have become newly fashionable. This exciting how-to book shows the reader the techniques that are used to reproduce several of the most popular painted finishes once created in rural cabinet shops--graining, marbleizing, fantasy finishes, and scene painting. 150 full-color photographs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525485880
• ISBN13: 9780525485889
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Studio Books
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.6" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding, outstanding, outstanding!

An incredible book which quickly became on of my favorite reference materials when studying antique painted furniture and reproducing authentic designs. Contains tips and techniques for your own projects and presents a good array of antique items as well. Very authoritative and offers sound advice on how to pull off complex projects without the complexities involved. I used to reproduce painted pieces for top name American furniture manufacturers. I worked on projects with the late Dr. Robert Bishop, former curator of the American Museum of Folk Art. We used authentic items in the collection as study guides. He once asked me to come to New York and conduct a workshop. Unfortuately my schedule could not allow it at the time. This is the workshop book you need. This is outstanding in design and concept. This was not around when I was doing this professionally and had to rely on my own talent, resources, and old texts to be my guide. Now it is all simplified in this one book. You can buy 100 books on the subject. But this is the only one you will need.

You've got the best here!

You've seen those wonderful grained picture frames or pieces offurniture in the shops for thousands, but never went to a classbecause it was too expensive or none was offered in your area. This book is the answer to your prayers! It is filled with loads of photos of antiques and furniture, etc. that have been decorated with vinegar glazes or with handsome primative-style murals. It is also one of the few books that even reveals how to do smoke graining...the whispy finish on many an old rocking horse or on furniture and smalls. Just add this to your shelf which should also include THE ART OF FAUX by Finkelstein, PROFESSIONAL PAINTED FINISHES by Marx, and DECORATIVE FURNITURE FINISHES WITH VINEGAR PAINT by Russell. All are well worth the investment. Happy Painting!

a great guide with terrific comparisons of new and old paint

These authors are among the best at recreating the look of old painted furniture/folk art. Very clear pictures are helpful. Also, they use an easy recipe (basically, vinegar, honey and pigment) which is easy to concoct for new users, unlike mesy oil based potions or those horribly complex formulae or lousy British-based ingredients which noone has ever heard of or found. For as cloise to instant gratification as you can get, this is the book to order for all beginners and intermediate grainers. (Advanced finishers can write heir own book.....) Enjoy!!

Best book on furniture painting I know

This book does the best job I know of showing wood graining, vinegar paint finishes, and Rufus Porter style landscape painting that I know of, and is also very sound on marbleizing. The illustrations and photo gallery are the best I have seen in any book anywhere. It has a narrow focus on doing Early American style furniture, but if you have any interest in this area you need to have this book. 7 stars!