St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-01
Interesting Dissertation on the POsslblll-
ties of Adjournment IN
O. the Home.
Draw Beer Mugs Before You Make an
Attempt to Paint
CherubS.
Some Very Pertinent Suggestions and
Hints on a Timely
subject.
decoration in-the Household.

cess That the scoffers fall short of disheart-
ening the embryonic artists Is clearly shown
by the constantly increasing numbers OF the
latter, and by the higher excellence OF tnelr
work. Every one cannot hope to become
Titan or a Rembrandt, but that neeo ho'
deter him from giving free rein to MS y" II
fancy, or even from copying the designs VI
others. In the work is wel-sprlng OF pieS'
I'D although the skeptic may sheer 'no
nay yet find abundant glory III 'no
S of indulgent friends. Nioreo'o
destion whether the INSPIRATION VI " io
oeart. worked out by loving hands, is nor
toductive of more genuine pleasure III INC
z home circle than the richest ana rarest Vi
the ooo,,isi+ions Of Croesus. This we admit is
a very Pbilistinfc doctrine and may be pro
nounced rank heresy by the elect. But as the
great majority of the worlds people are Phll-
istines we exnect to find many assenters TO
our belief in its truth.
The human mind is so constituted as to
continually demand something new, and to
produce something new is the aim or those
ENGAGED in the arts of design 1t will be our
object 10 keep pace with them and in series
of short chapters give as many helpful hints
as NAV be to novices in art and decoration
(who are precluded from gaining such infor-
nation through the usual channels), trusting
that the seed we sow may spring forth and
bear abundantly of good fruit.
The growing number of painters has led to
an evil which is greatly to be deplored
The market is flooded with mediocre
colors, oils and varnishes that will
not stand the wear and tear of time.
Nor is this fraud confined to our own coun-
try. So universally is it practiced in the old
world that Meissonier has been prompted to
suggest that laboratory be created
= FOR TESTING ARTISTS STORES
very much as adulterated food and wines are
now tested by similar establishments. 1t IS,
perhaps. unnecessary to impress upon the
yorker, however inexperienced the advisa-
hility of using only the best materials, as a
means of securing both ease in working ana
oernanency of effect. The artist snoul
also know of what his colors &re made as
well as how to use them. The better ac-
uuainted he 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 of their qualities will teacn
him to avoid them.
One of the greatest difficulties that besets
beginners is the desire to go on too
RAPIDLY. They want to paint cherGbs
before they can draw beer mugs. Our
advice tothem is to go slowly, lest the disap-
pointments of their work dismay them. AS
one must learn to creep before one can walk,
so one must learn to draw before one can ex-
pect to paint especially if it is intended to
make the most of ones artistic talent
One of the very best practices for the eye and
hand is drawing with pen ard ink. The pupil
will by this means soon learn never TO draw
a line that does Otmean something. Anotner
very good plan is to sketch in the evening OBJ
jects or scenes that have impressed them
selves upon the eye during the day. In this
the memory of forms is Quickened, and
the artist who can practically see with his
stnind's eye'' NAV 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 conse-
ouence their pictures have very
unsatisfactory uphill look. 1t must be borne
in mind that far away objects are dim in out
line and dull in coloring, while those near by
may be bright and crisp. 1t is best to have
well fixed in the mind what one wishes to
paint before beginning the work. For this
reason all
GREAT ARTISTS MAKE A SKETCH
beforehand. Wandering aimlessly on is al
most sure to produce incongruities which
will ruin the otherwise pleasing work. In
tt4tNS ~ -
good one lest your work be thrown away.
Very agreeable effects may be attained in
landscape and flower painting by the anna
teur who has ''picked up all the knowledge
ne possesses. When it comes to figure and
portrait painting it is quite another matter
and. without unmistakable genius or a
thorough course of training, the dabbler is
pretty sure to come to grief.
The fashion OF painting on wood or slate
Danels is condemned by some artists with
very good reason. All the color stays on the
surface and the outline is apt to be hard and
unpleasing, except under most skillful hands.
A better surface is obtained by rubbing down
a new canvas with pumice stone and turpen-
tine. upon which the colors take fast hold.
IF they dry in they can be brought out again
by vanishing.
Painting on linen in imitation of tapestry
has for some time been very popular. The
hest linen in use is of French manufacture,
and is known as Point Gobelns." Being of
an ecru tint it lends a softness to the colors
which closely resembles the faded hueS of old
tapestry The linen must be stretched upon
q frame, and the design sketched or
traced upon it, Then with thinly
diluted mixture of ivory black and red ochre
90 over the outlines that they may be pre-
lavender, should be laid on lightly, in order
to avoid clogging the grain of the linen.
Even in the highest tones the painting must
he heavy Care should also be taken
TO SELECT THE DULL CoLoRs
,,ao,11iar TO old tapestries. With little at
tsrtion TO these details very satisfactory re-
Suits NAV be attained by the average ANA
teur.
Etching on glass and porcelain is another
Ravorite advertisement, and is by no means
such a difficult piece of work as may be
Imagined In etching on porcelain the first
rrocess is to cover the article to be
etched with n black varnish, through
which the design is drawn with
SHARP point. "a rat-tail file, ground
down answers the purpose admirably. The
steel is well-tempered and the rough surface
affords very efficient grip upon the TOOL
Then apply fluoric acid, which will dissolve
the glaze, leaving fine 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 be done
in the same manner, emitting the color, or
the etching fluid may be applied to the glass
with a common pen. According to the
Decorator and Furnisher liquid just intro
duced for this purpose consists of hydro
fuoric acid, ammonium fuoride and oxalic
acid thickened with barium sulphate An
other. and 1t is claimed a better fluid, is made
as follows: Equal parts of double
hydrogen ammonium fuoride and dried
precipftated barium sulphate are ground
together in a mortar. The mixture is
then treated in a platinum, lead or gutta
percha dish with Tuning hydrofuoric acid
until the latter ceases to react. There is in
almost every woman natural bent for
household decoration. This inclination man
ifests itself in a variety of ways, some of