Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-08-31
WHAT WOMEN WANT TO KNOW.

In the Art Interchange, which is household
journal. may always be found admirable sug-
gestions regarding the decoration of homes,
and in the following paper from it are some
good points:
The growing interest in applying the prin-
ciples of art to the decoration Of houses is an
encouraging sign, and if women could be in-
duced to overcome their natural liking for
what has been we'll defined as ssmillinery''
effects and for sham decoration, the houses of
the country would speedily become marvels
of good taste. AS it is, harmonious
ally designed wall and floor coverings and
upholstery are to be met IN connection with
crude aud tawdry attempts at ornamentation.
For some reason there appears to exist preju-
dice, on the part of women, against leaving
any considerable portion Of the wall space un-
covered It matters not how beautiful the
wall paper may be- comparatively little of it is
shown; every conceivable object, which is
capable of being attached to wall surface,
from tobacco pipe to Japanese umbrella, is
Impressed into the service Of decoration. No
ithosraphie advertising, plaque is too afro
being used in, beribboned state
to disfgure house walls. Dressing
tables, chairs, sofas aud windows also tempt
many women to the exhibition Of false taste.
Perhaps the most unpleasant manifestation Of
liking for bad decoration is the increasing
use Of imitation stained glass. It has nothing
to commend 1t; pretending to be what it is not
condemns it to the category of Shame, beside
which it has no beauty OF it's own, either in
color or design. A plain linen shade is not
only more suitable, but infinitely moro nearly
artistic than the best of patent stained glass:
AS for walls. if plainly painted or papered
surface is for any reason undesirable, very
beautiful wall hangings can be pro-
duced at comparatively little cost OF
time, by any woman who. can WELD
conceived than these tapestry painted panels.
They may be used with good effect to cover
the entire wall surface, or only portions Of it
The French. with their usual taste in art mat
tors, have brought tapestry painting to a high
degree Of excellence, and ENGLAND is also in
ing upon glass is by no means impossible OF
attainment on the part of the amateur, and
even if it were that would be no palliation
of such an onense against good
taste as the use of patent stained glass (pa-
peru. The simplest decoration on glass, even
If it consists only of tint, if we'll done, is o
work of art and creditable to the worker. Aft
er several years of flower painting on small
objects, such as plaques, panels. mirror
frames and the like, there ought to be many
hundreds Ut women among amateurs ready to
undertake more serious work. To these are
recommended tapestry painting and glass
staining as pursuits useful not only for artistic
decoration Of the house, but as valuable &C.
complshments in mercantile sense.
TO an Amateur Artist,
First--Tn all illustrations for newspapers,
periodicals, books, in al Christmas card de-
signs. and tapestry patterns, bear in mind that
originality and beauty of design are Of first and
greatest Importance. Hence it follows that If
you have sufficient artistic taste to draw any
thing worth, your while you may use oils,
water colors, pencils, crayons, charcoal, India
ink, pen, or any material which suits your
convenience. Yet, while you are permitted
such liberty, it is best to select
the material which you can most sue
cessfully manipulate, but let it be
the best Of its kind. II you should
prefer oil as your medium, use the Oil sketch
ing paper or canvas: if water colors, water
color paper; for crayon sketches. stipple paper;
for sketches in India ink, the ordinary French
white paper; and for the pen, very smooth
Bristol board. 2 Water color sketches are often
very acceptable. Crayons are used by some OF
the very best artists Of the country. They are
peculiarly adaptable to landscapes, and nothing
could be more beautiful than some OF Gifford's
crayon sketches of sea scenes. India ink is
probably employed more than any other ma
terlaL The design should be interpreted in
wash without lines the lines being put il
afterVard by the engraYer. If you desire line
Interpretation, it is best to use pen and ink.
Your design can then be photo engrayed BY .