Painting Animals (Decorative Painters Library)

Ever since the days of cave paintings, humans have been fascinated with depicting animals. Decorative painting master Andy Jones--author of the excellent Decorative Paint Finishes for the Home--now turns his skilled hand to portraying all sorts of creatures from realms domestic (cats, dogs, bunnies), barnyard (hen, rooster, pigs, horse, cow), and wild (panda, giraffe). Extremely thorough directions, crisp color photos, and complete patterns demonstrate how to depict the animals on various wooden and occasionally metal items, including boxes, trays, cutting boards, and plates. Every project is keyed by skill level so even novices can handle a few of these. Plus, comprehensive coverage of general decorative painting supplies, techniques, surface preparation, and special finishes (antiquing, flyspecking, crackling, varnishing) ensures that readers are well equipped to achieve not just accomplished animal representations but complete, useful projects. --Amy Handy