Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-11-15
AMATEUR ARTISTS.
artand Decoration I'm the Household.

1t is not very long time since the art
of lustra painting was first presented TO the
public, but it has already gained tor itself
an acknowledged position as legitimate
branch OF decorative art Its discovery
would seem to be retroversion OF the
ancient theory that "there is nothing new
under the sun" for it is in no wise copy,
or an imitation Of the ideas of Others. IL
must not be COMPOUNDED With "luster paint
In" which as q decorative medium Is
practically useless, on account OF the
instability of the powders used. They
will not remain untarnished tor any length
Of time, and, what is worse viii soon crack
and fall from the material Lustra paint
ing, on the contrary, will remain thing
of beauty, re.aining all lis pristine bril-.
liancy, and even out wearing the material
upon which il is executed. This quality
renders it especially suitable tor portieres'
door. panels lsmbrequins, mantel-drspes'
table sca,fs, and the thousand and one
other uses to which any sort OF painting Is
applicable. The colors in disappointing
are metallic, and are used with q medium
supplied for the purpose, which while
fixing them permanently lends to them
an additional depth of tone, and an hides.
cribsble richness and gorgeousness OF
coloripg. 1t also does away with the o.
lection to putting oils on costly materials,
for there is no oil about It: 1t may De
made to resemble the rarest embroideries
in floss silk at the will, or skill OF the
worker, and possesses the san e advantage
in point OF speed as does kensington paint.
inc over the work OF the needle. II the
worker has no talent for drawing the design
may be traced or stamped upon the fabric:
Mr.. Rufus II. Bragdon the inventor and
pateutee OF lustra painting gives the ioi'
| lowing essential points as TO how to Pre-
coed; paint ,cih the pile, that IL paint
with the nap running down, and lay the
paint on the surface only; take short firm
strokes, using the fat Of the brush as much
as possible and keeping the edges clean
cut by taking fresh color in the brush Ire
quently. For fresh painting the colors
NAV be mixed with the medium about the
consistency of syrup, and for linen satin
etc a little more medium should be added
and but little color at time taken in the
brush. In this work it is best to adhere
always 10 one rule viz, to imagine that the
light falls on the object from the top. and
necessarily the shadows will be at the bot,
tom, the exceptions being when some in
tervenipg object, perhaps a petal OF the
same flowe-, casts it's shadow upon an un.
deriving part that would otherwise be in
hish.light; or when a very fully opened
fat flower necessitates an unnatural
quantity OF shadow 10 order to show Oh
the drawing Unlike pictorial work, the
darkest shadows are obtained by the use
of the darkest tone of the key Of color
used, and rot by darkening the general
lone. Conventional and bold free designs
are most suitable and effective.
Small details and very delicate shading
are Objectionable and almost impossible.
The work is not difficult to accomplish,
and opens field Of charming employment
10 women either as pastime or as Q
means of making money. The one will
find in il an unendlng delight, while the
other in addition may most certainly de-
pend upon a ready demand for the results
OF her skill Brsgdon has published lit,
tie book Of instruction which it will be we'll
for the amateur to consult II it is desired
to carry the work to any extent.
Acreens hold position oil Importance
in the household furniture Of the present
day, an their utility cannot be overesti.
mated. The French, who have holy hor.
ror of coudRt d air have used them from
time immemorial, but their common intro
ductiou into common American homes is
of comparatively recent date. Now the
housewife wonders how she ever got on
without this useful article which is
made to serve such an infnity OF
purposes AS shield for some unsightly
object, or the passage way from one apart.
ment to another, TO keep the drsught from
ones back, or the too intense heat from the
FIRE from ones face, even to furnish o bare
space, or an ugly corner, they are equally
convenient or valuable, although there may
be question as 10 the good taste Of the
latter disposition OF the screen. Undoubt.
eddy it should have raison dstrs. One
has a right TO expect that there 10 some
thing tehind it; still we have seen some
happy effects in tho arrangement of q
room by having one or more Of its angles
cut oG by the agency OF large screen.
A very pretty one Of three panels may
be made Of common white mating mount.
ed upon cheap frame OF wood, which
may be stained black walnut, cherry or
mahogany and given two or three coats OF
copal vasRish, letting it dry thoroughly Of
ter each coat. The panels are Joined with
small brass hinges. the mating is then
packed closely 10 the frame and is
ready for the painting. Outline painting
in monochrome looks extremely we'll on this
material; burnt lumber c. burnt sienna be.
ing very good 2olors to use. This is q
cheap :cFesn, but it is withal odd ssd I'm.
pretenlious and suited TO meaJ uaeS
There is hardly !ilait to ths variety OF
styles in which tcreepS are made. It il
we'll, however; % avoid anything outre in
shape. particularly if the work is Of char.
seter that one wishes TO preserve indefinite.
ly. There is Likewise great diversity Of
material used in the frames. In these days
of metal work it is frequent fancy to have
the frames made OF brass. which possesses
the advantage Of al ways retaining its shape
through all the vicisti,udes OF char ,sble
climate. II also serves as q snowy frame
for the painting or embroidery, especially
if the work be done on dark plush or satin.
Lustra and Keusipgton painting are pecu-
lisrly adapted TO screea decoration, az is
the iavor;ts imitation Of Gobelin ia pes,ry.
Ever since the Exhibition OF 1876 there
has been an increasing interest in and de-
msnd for the exquisite and wonderful pro-
duc,ion OF the Chinese and Japanesa This
craze has resulted 10 uDkuo4a quantities
OF embroidery and painting copied from
the work doas in those countries, come ci
which equal in defines and beauty 10 an,-
thing OF the kind brough. from the Celes.
,tial Kingdom. !, screen recently etched
in floss ::.ss of cob web Ike textoIe on
Gimy Kioto crepe, by ors OF our own coun-
| try women, was mark ci artistic hardi.
work, lts frame was very fttingly Of
bamboo.
Fire screens are nsually made With one
swinging panel Sc. in q metal issx.s. A
very pretty ides 10 10 DO shs painting on