The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-29
STRETCHING WITH A HOT POKER.
A Novelty in Art WOrk--What a Whimsical
Boston Genius Accomplished.

Boston Genius Accomplished.
New York Tribune
I'm 1915" said Fifth avenue art dealer
to Tribune reporter, "there lived in the
city OF Boston a worthless vagabond named
Halden, a man who had seen botter days.
He was an artist-had wonderful talent and
during his periodical sprees would devote
himself assiduously TO his peculiar work.
though he was never known to do anything
while sober. A wealthy banker who had
known him in his younger years and knew
of his genius, would indulge him in the
prosecution of his work and aided him in
many other ways. He was also acquainted
with Halden's peculiarities and knew the fit
OF application never came over him when
sober. Indeed on several occasions he had
gone so far as to treat him to drink in
order to get him to work. Halden's portraits
were the best specimen of his art, and they
were marvels of correctness. They were gen.
orally burned on thin board of bird's-eye
maple, with red-hot poker of the ordinary
shape, after which they received two coats
of varnish which was put on to preserve
them, and set in deep, heavy frames. He
called them Poker Sketches and on the
back OF each was burned this inscription:
This sketch was burned with a poker-Hal-
den, scul psit'
His licensees were striking, and the
three of them now in existence, although
executed from memory. are perfect in every
respect. He had seen Webster only once in
his life, but the portrait which he burned
with his hot poker has been pronounced one
of the truest likenesses ever seen of the great
statesman. Websters strong features and
dark complexion admirably suited the char
acter of the work, which has a peculiar
brown appearance when finished. His pic
ture of Clay is owned by his banker friend,
who also once owned the other two, but pre-
sented them to some Southern friends. One
of them, Shakespeare is in the possession OF
Francis Fontaine, commissioner of emgra-
ton of Georgia Webster was presented to a
humorous writer of the same State, and now
hangs in his parlor, an object OF wonder and
admiration to visitors.
Poker sketches are durable and will last
for centuries. In doing them it is literally
q case of burn while the iron is hot One
mistouch OF the poker ruins the board; there
is no erasure, no wiping out. A board so
spoiled, the only remedy is to begin on anoth-
er and do the whole thing over again.
sit is wonderful to see the variety of
shades and colors which may be produced
by this burning process After the appllca-
ton of the varnish it more resembles oil
work than anything else, and the deception
is so complete that q touch of the finger is
required to remove it. The indentureS may
be plainly felt with the hand. 1t may seem
strange that this art has nevr developed, but
probably there are few people who would
tinually suffer from burned fingers for the
sake of art alone. But in this age of novelty
and invention, the continual desire for some
thing new it is to be wondered at that no
one has ever been able to approach Halden
in his peculiar art. A few have tried it,
however and with fair success. R. E. J..
Miles, the Cincinnati theatrical manager, has
a sketch of J ohm Mccullough as Othello,
which has been pronounced excellent by
those who have seen it. 1t was executed by
a young man, and bears a late date, 1882,
and burned by poker on its back
1.-THE poker has been used with effect in
landscape sketching, and picture of a log
cabin, with surrounding woods, and a stream
in the foreground, with here and there an
animal of some kind has been exhibited.
The picture compares favorably with the
average crayon work, and its colors are far
richer and the shading more deep and full.
There is no reason why many of the army
of crayon artists should not take up this
poker sketching and realize something from
it. 1t is certainly unique and attractive.
The only materials required can be had at
an insignificant outlay They consist of the
thin boards about one-eighth of an inch
thick, fire-pot to burn charcoal for heating
the poker. and almost any piece of iron bent
to the proper shape. A bottle of good copal
varnish and brush complete the outfit
Bird s-eye maple is the best wood to use, be-
| cause it has no soft grain to cause the poker
to Jump and burn irregularly. With this
outfit, little talent and little patience one
can soon learn to make a poker sketch.