Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-11-08
AMATEUR ARTISTS.
Art and Decoration in the Household.
WrItten for the Sunday Regisfer.


1t has become very much the fashion in
these latter days to direct the sings and
arrows of ridicule at the efforts Of anna
teurs to achieve artistic success.
That the scoffsrs fall short of dishearten.
ing the constantly increasing numbers OF
the latter, and by the highest excellence OF
their work. Everyone cannot hope to pc
come a Titan or Rembrandt, but that
should not deter him from giving free reins
to his own fancy or even from copying the
designs of others. In the work is increas-
ing pleasure, and although the skeptic
NAV sneer, the worker may yet find abun'
dsnt glory in the plsudits OF indnlgent
friends. Moreover, it is question whether
the inspiration Of longing heart, worked
out By loving hsnds is not productive Of
more genuine satisfaction than the richest
and rarest of the acquisitions OF Cr9sus
This we admit is very Philslnic docrine
and may be pronounced rank heresy oy the
elect. Bat, as the great majority OF the
worlds people are Philistines. We still con-
gdently expect to find many assenters to
our belief in its truth.
The human mind is so constituted as TO
continually demand something Few, ana
to produce something Few is the aim OF
those engaged il the arts of design. 1t
will be our object to keep pace with them,
and in q series of weekly chapters give as
many helpful hints as may be to novices
in art and decoration, who may be pre-
cluded from gaining such information
through the usual channels trusting that
the seed we SOW may spring forth aud bear
abundsntly of good fruit.
The growing numbers Of painters has
led to an evil which is greatly to be deplor'
ed. The market is flooded with mediocre
oils, paints, and varnishes that will not
stand the wear and tear of time. Nor is
this fraud confined to our own country. SO
universally is it prscdced ip the Old World
that Meissouier has been prompted to sug-
sest that a laboratory be created for test
ing artists stores, very much ss adultersted
food and wines, are tested by laboratories
now in existence. 1t is, perhaps, unneces-
sary to impress upon the worker, however
inexperienced, the advisability OF using the
best materials, both So q means of securing
ease in working, and permsnencY OF et.
feet. The artist should also know OF what
his colors are made, as we'll as how 10 use
them. The better acquainted workman
is with his tools, the more certain he will be
in their use. Besides, there are colors
which should never be used at all, and only
knowledge If their qualities will teach
him to avoid them. One of the chief diff
| 6culties that besets beginners is the desire
to 60 on too RAPIDLY. They want to paint
cherubs, before they can draw beer mugs
our advice to them is 10 make haste slowly,
lest the iissppolntments of their work dis
may them. If one expects to make the
most of ones artistic talents one must learn
to draw before proceeding to the intrics-
cies of color and brush. 1t is in art as in
life-one must creep before one can walk.
One OF the very best practises for the eye
and hand is drawing in pen and ibk. The
pupil will by this means soon learn never
to draw line that does not mean some
thing. Another very good plan is to sketch
in the evening objects or scenes that have
impressed themselves upon the eye during
the day. In this way the memory of forms
is quickened, and the artist who can prac
ticaIly see with his minds eye" may be
said to have acquired very large stock in
trade.
A common fault with beginners is to
pay too much attention to the details OF
the background. In consequence their
pictures have a very unsatisfactory uphill
look. 1t must be borne in mind that far
away objects are dim in outline and dull
in coloring, while those nearby may be
bright ana crisp. A point which We wise
amateurs will remember is never to under
take work for which he has not qualified
himself by slow degrees. While The dab.
bier, who has picked up" all the knowl.
edge he possesses may accomplish very fair
fleets in landscape and flower painting,
he will be pretty sure to come to grief II
he undertakes figures or portraits That
sort of work requires real genius or q
thorough course of training, or both.
The fashion OF painting on wood or slate
panel is condemned by some artists with
good reason. All the color stays On the
surface and the outline is apt TO be bard
and unplsssing, except under most skillful
hands. A better surface is obtained by
rubbing down a new canvass with pumice
stone and turpentire, upon WHICH colors
take fast hold. II they dry in they can
readily be brought again by vanishing.
Painting on lineD,I in imitation oftapesiry
has for some time been very popular. The
best linen in use is OF French manuiac-
ture and ia known as Point Gobelins"
B, ing of oil ecru tint it lends softness TO
the colors which closely resembles the
faded hues in old tapestry. The linen
must be stretched upon frame and the
design sketcbed or traced upon it. There
with thinly diluted mixture of black and
red, ochre 90 over the lines that they may
be preserved. The colors. diluted with
essence of lsvendaT, should be laid o.
lightly to avoid clogRing the grain Of the
linen. Even in the highest tones the paint
ing must not be heavy. Care should be
taken to collect the dull oolors peculiar to
old tapestry. With little attention to
these details very satisfactory results may
be acieved BY the average amateur.
Etching on porcelain and glass is anoth.
er favorite advertisement. In etching on
porcelain the first process is 10 cover the
article 10 be etched with black yarnish
through which the design is drawn with q
sharp steel point. "a rat tail file, ground
down, answers the purpose admirably. The
steel is we'll tempered and the rough sur
face affords very efficient grip upon the
tool Then Apply fuyric acid which will
dissolve the glaze, leaving file depressed
lines. The varnish is then removed, some
mineral color is rubbed into the lines. and
the piece is ready for the kiln. Etching on
glass may he done in the same way, omit
ting the color, or etching fluid may be sp'
Piled to the glass Wit common pen. Ac-
cording to the Decorator and Furnisher
liquid Just introduced consists of hydro
1uoric acid, ammonium fuoridsr and OK
alic acid thickened with barimen sulphste
Another, and it is claimed, better fluid
is made as follows:
Equal parts Of double hydrogen ammo !
mum Auorids and dried precipitated bari |
men sulphste are groud together in NOR