New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11
PLANT PAINTINGS
NATURES OWN TTNTs.

A lady BY dint Of skill. patience ana indnstrv,
compiled with great deal OF taste in the selection OF
colors has brought to high degree OF perfection
an ART 10 which she has given the name oil " Plane
Paintings II be applied 10 the decoration
Of photograph frames, lamp-shades. letter cases.
handkerchief cases. key holders portfolios. and even
fire screens. The use of shading is one of the
principal means of producing beautiful effects. and
this will necessarily require some hile practice
Cray brown. red and green are the coiorN winch
permit this shading All plants will not reta their
colors during the drying process and among the
latter NAV be mentioned pinks. narcissus. @aea''
heliotrope forget mo nots and violet. Primroses.
gentians larlIspur, blue and red morning giories
wallHowers and buttercups, on the contrary, keep
their tints perfectly.
The first process Is 10 press the flowers In a thick
hook which must be done very carefully. gently
and patiently. To arrange them brush the backs OF
the flowers lightly with gum-arabic and Law them on
white, blue or cream coOrtd paper, grouping them
according to fancy II the design l. very eI'oor'''
il is advisable lightly Ia sketch the outline AMER
all the flowers and plants are gumned on tne paper
nut them In a press under heavy weight un'li
they look perfectly Nat.
Those who desire 10 attempt the shading VIII nnu
the following directions helpful:
GRAY is the most delicate OF all the gradauons OF
color. Black be obtained by pressing the RED
tips of the poplar shoots: dark ana medium coors
are furnished by the silver willow. silver poplar.
and c.tkins. The MOSES should be soaked IN water
a short time before pressing, and the catkins mss
DC stripped of their woody portion.
Brown is provided by cypress heather and fern
The varieties of the latter select be learned
onty by practice. \ lighter SHADE Is furnished
by the small leaves of the maple beech and birch
trees, and by curIant bushes. while the butter
cup gives yellow.
Red is supplied by whortleberry bushes. verbenas.
the red maple. sOrrel blossoms ana vine tendnls;
he most brilliant the pelargOnum. the blossoms
are allowed to dry the stem in tho before
pressing: wild vine leaves often too lapge or
dlsagurcd with yellow spot> \ careful aalecton must
lie made in to accomplish satisfactory results.
Green difficult to obtain because many leaves lose
their color entirely while drying Ivy will retain
it, hues only when plucked very yourg. before 10
has lost its reddish tint when It Is yellow and
dead The various species OF moss. however, Keep
their hucs admirably and be found in every
shade from light-whsh usually grows IN
camp places-to the deep green seen IN dense Pima
woods. There also several varieties OF fern,
Starwort and sorrcl. Mgnonete. maple blossoms.
heather and small chestnut leaves can also be
utilized.
II will be wise however. not TO attempt shading
al first. but begin BY arranging bouquets.
sarlands and half wreaths OF the bright dried flowers
skill in plant painting. in all other arts. will
come with practice and those who first a4opt 10
will doubtless find ready sale for their wares.
since buyers always In search OF novelties.