I was out shopping at the local used bookstore and found this great old book. "1001 More Paint Questions Answered" has loads of painting guides including some on faux wood painting.

You may or may not know that I love all things related to painting... including any thing to do with making old things look new with paint... particularly painting faux wood.

This time of year in Yuma, AZ is hot... I mean Hot! And we are always looking for something to do inside. What better way to while away an afternoon than to browse an old bookstore?

First... a bit more about this book. Printed in 1908, (yes, it's musty) it is a gathering of articles from The Painters Magazine.

In addition to the answers given to specific questions, it embraces bits of practical information gathered form the experiences of the veteran painter. Formulas, hints, articles and practical experience were selected from the published reports of professional house painters.

Here is an excerpt about "Graining Imitation Golden Oak"

Golden oak is shown in a number of effects from an almost black vein with bronze brown glakes to brown vein with rather yellow effects. In graining, the most important step is to have the groundwork exactly right, so that the flakes wipe out to the right color. The ground for golden oak should be made from white paint tinted with chrome-yellow and a tiny bit of Venetian red. This color should be a strong buff, in which, however, the yellow should predominate.

The grain color is made of raw sienna. Vandyke brown and a tiny drop of lamp black is added. This should be thinned and the proceed with the graining process... combing and letting dry. Then glaze with asphaltim, wipe out large blazes of light and put in dark spats with small sash too.

Now... I don't know about you... but I am loving the tips and information by the old masters given in this book.

Okay... the bookstore. Well, I am not going to give away my favorite... Gee, I want to save the "good" shopping for me. :)

But... their is a really... I mean very good book store that is easy to find. The Corner Bookstore is on the corner of 4th Ave and 32nd St. in Yuma, AZ. It's big and filled with hours of browsing material.

Maybe your not that interested in Faux Wood Painting... but everyone loves bookstores. So if your looking for a cool place to hide out from the summer heat... try an old bookstore.

Faux Wood Painting Video