Decorative Painting and Art
Helpful tips, essential techniques, and step-by-step demonstrations on decorative painting for artists of all levels of expertise.
Decorative Painting Photo Album
Photos of decorative painting projects submitted by About.com Painting readers.
Photos of decorative painting projects submitted by About.com Painting readers.
How to Load a Flat Brush with a Single Color
How to load or put a single color of paint onto a brush for a decorative painting project.
How to load or put a single color of paint onto a brush for a decorative painting project.
Decorative Painting Techniques: Load a Flat Brush with Two Colors
How to load or put two colors of paint onto a brush for a decorative painting project.
How to load or put two colors of paint onto a brush for a decorative painting project.
What Colors Should You Use for Painting an Eggplant or Red Onion?
Find out what colors you should mix when painting an eggplant or red onion.
Find out what colors you should mix when painting an eggplant or red onion.
Paint a Faux Stained Glass Christmas Ornament
How to paint a faux stained glass Christmas ornament, complete with free pattern to print.
How to paint a faux stained glass Christmas ornament, complete with free pattern to print.
Painted Faux Stained Glass Project: Cardinal and Magnolia
A step-by-step project (with printable design) for painting a faux stained glass design of a cardinal and magnolia.
A step-by-step project (with printable design) for painting a faux stained glass design of a cardinal and magnolia.
How to Prepare Slippery Surfaces for Decorative Painting
Tips on how to paint successfully on slippery or smooth surfaces, such as glass.
Tips on how to paint successfully on slippery or smooth surfaces, such as glass.
How to Price Your Decorative Painting Work
Some tips on how to set a price for decorative painting work you intend to sell.
Some tips on how to set a price for decorative painting work you intend to sell.
How to Paint Basic Highlights and Shadows
An introduction to creating single-colour highlights and shadows on a painted decorative image.
An introduction to creating single-colour highlights and shadows on a painted decorative image.
Step-by-Step Faux Effects
Clear instructions on how to get a whole range of faux effects, including Venetian plaster, marble, crackle, elephant hide, marble, malachite, and oak grain.
Clear instructions on how to get a whole range of faux effects, including Venetian plaster, marble, crackle, elephant hide, marble, malachite, and oak grain.
Faux Painting Techniques
Instructions on faux techniques, such as sponging, rag rolling, masking, and combing, including surface preparation, the materials needed, and the techniques involved.
Instructions on faux techniques, such as sponging, rag rolling, masking, and combing, including surface preparation, the materials needed, and the techniques involved.
Tole or One-Stroke Brush Techniques
An illustrated explanation of how to do various one-stroke brush tole brush strokes.
An illustrated explanation of how to do various one-stroke brush tole brush strokes.
Gilding
An illustrated example of gilding, turning an ordinary stone into a piece of 'gold'.
An illustrated example of gilding, turning an ordinary stone into a piece of 'gold'.
Fresco Painting
A summary (unfortunately not illustrated) of the main steps in painting a fresco, starting with giving the section of plaster some time to set.
A summary (unfortunately not illustrated) of the main steps in painting a fresco, starting with giving the section of plaster some time to set.
Make Your Own Stamps
An illustrated explanation of how to cut a simple stamp from an eraser plus some suggestions on using basic stamps.
An illustrated explanation of how to cut a simple stamp from an eraser plus some suggestions on using basic stamps.
Decorative Painting Recipes from Golden Paints
This collection of decorative painting recipes from Golden Paints includes an array of techniques and effects.
This collection of decorative painting recipes from Golden Paints includes an array of techniques and effects.
Tole Painting: Basic Brushstrokes Explained
A look at the various basic brushstrokes used in tole painting.
A look at the various basic brushstrokes used in tole painting.
Tole Painting: How to Paint a Rose
Instructions on how to paint a two-color, tole rose.
Instructions on how to paint a two-color, tole rose.