The Art of Illusion: A Trompe l'Oeil Painting Course
Translated from the French,trompe l'oeilmeans "deceive the eye," andThe Art of Illusionby English artist Janet Shearer shows you how to paint trompe l'oeil murals in your own home. These illusionary murals are surprising "visual jokes" meant to deceive the viewer. As Shearer counsels, "The joke is only effective if you do it well." Projects range from smaller, more focused studies, such as an amusing trio of guinea hens perched above a doorway, to complex, large-scale designs such as a set of spacious, elegant arches that open onto mysterious rooms. You can create fabric or stonework impressions, and even employ trompe l'oeil effects upon furniture. Shearer covers design, perspective, preparation, and equipment before introducing techniques of mural painting. This book will prove a delight not only to interior designers, but to anyone who seeks the challenge of creating bold, imaginative visual effects in their own houses.--Mary Ribesky