The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20

making a bust of Major j. w. Gordon. 1t will
be from a model in clay and is intended for the
fair. The friends of the Major will doubtless be
surprised at the striking likeness. Mr.. Lowe,
while making no claims to proficiency in model
ing SHOWS a talent that will be at once recognized
anu should by all means be encouraged and cul-
tivated.
Miss Culbertson will soon finish a very costly
and elegant screen. 1t contains six large panels
In oil, the studies Of which are mostly from ma
ture. Barney Castle, Ireland; Hawthornden,
Scotland, and a picturesque spot in Germany
are three of the scenes. The other three studies
are of this lady's own design. and represent
summer. autumn and winter. The whole is a
very fine effort, and has been generally admired
by all who have seen it. When fully finished it
will be on exhibition in Mr.. Calls sh~ow-window
A story is told by an artist-a Chicago artist
OF course-of an experience with a young lady
pupil In paiting. Before she began taking
lessons, her father, a very wealthy farmer, told
the artist that she had a palette, an easel, and
all the necessary appliance for pursuing art
studies. When she appeared and produced her
painting apparatus, the artist stood aghast.
The easel was of home-construction and OF the
rudest description, doubtless having been whit
tied out In the leisure moments of the wealthy
father-wbile the palette consisted Of an old
oyster can With a hole in the under side in which
the fair owner stuck her lly-white thumb. She
explained that she had a lovely palette and easel
at home. but they were decorated with red rib
bons, and made the parlor look SO pretty that
she couldn't bear to use them.
The artists and non-artists who accompanied
Miss Sue Ketcham's Allegheny art excursion
are unanimous In pronouncing the month spent
In sketching and painting among the Pennsyl-
yania mountains a season both profitable and
delightful. The natives of Birmingham, the
little town in which the party made its head
quarters, were apparently greatly interested in
the excursion and its object. and unreservedly
gave the freedom of the village to the visiting
artists. Every nook and corner of the quaint,
little place and its beautiful surroundings were
rich material to artistic eyes; and even back
yards were invaded by enterprising sketcherS.
as old-fashioned soap-kettles and spring-houses
were caught striking picturesque attitudes.
Many amusing bits of experience are related in
connection with the months sojourn in Birming-
ham. One old lady felt aggrieved because
her house was newly painted, and
not a soul had made a sketch of
it. Another complained bitterly that she had
put chairs on her front porch for days and days,
ana not one OF the artists had come to sit there.
Ieamsters with their horses and wagons would
occasionally come to a stand-still before an out
door sketcher and modestly request to be put
into that plcture;" while the ubiquitous small
boy was always on hand, either prancing madly
In the foreground, or peeping over the artists
shoulder with a cry to his companions: 'Oh,
lookee here! She a maxim a Jim dandy" TIL
blue Juniata" is chronicled as not having come
up to the precise shade of blue which the poet
has led artists to expect, but on the whole the
excursion was a pronounced success, and the
numerous studies in oil and crayon with which
the party return laden, as well as the enthusiasm
with which they newly apply themselves TO
work, testify to the value of tho expedition.