Tole & Decorative Painting 

as defined by the Society of Decorative Painters

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Decorative painting as defined by the Society of Decorative Painters, is a diverse art form that utilizes a variety of techniques and media to decorate functional and nonfunctional surfaces.

Contemporary decorative painting is a teachable art form because of the systematic method that is employed.  The use of either predrawn or freehand designs allows a high degree of success without academic training or inherent drawing ability.  Approached with creativity, discipline and craftsmanship, contemporary decorative painting offers numerous opportunities for artistic self expression and creative satisfaction.  The scope of contemporary decorative painting is boundless, incorporating styles and techniques of the past, adapting these to the trends and materials of the present, while at the same time developing decorative art heritage of the future.

Tole painting is the term that has been used historically for decorative painting on tin surfaces, especially in New England and by the Pennsylvania Germans.

Today, in addition to tole painting and folk art styles of many countries such as Norway, Sweden, Germany, Russia, England and Mexico, contemporary decorative painting includes facets of Early American Decorative Painting such as stenciling, bronzing, gold leafing, country painting, theorem and graining.  Whatever their methods, techniques or media, all decorative artists have a place in the Society of Decorative Painters.

About Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter, Inc.

Heart of Ohio Tole, known affectionately to its members as HOOT, was organized in 1975 in Columbus, Ohio, and became an affiliated Chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters (SDP or NSTDP) in 1976.  We are a not-for-profit organization.  For more information contact us at the following address:

Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter, Inc
P.O. Box 626 
Reynoldsburg, Ohio  43068-0626 
(614) 863-1785
http://www.heartofohiotole.org
e-mail address:  HOOT626@wowway.com