The morning call., 1890-11-07
MINIATURE PAINTING.
How to Enter Upon the Practice
of a Delightful HandiwOrk.

Since the revival of the fashion of mini-
ature painting amateurs have displayed
decided penchant for 1t, some of them even
da ii g to undertake miniatures without any
previous training. This, of course. bears
out the old saw as to the courage of ig-
norance-"Fools step in where wise men
fear to tread"
But we do not wish TO discourage the be-
ginner, only 10 warn him of beginning too
high. Miniature painting is a most beauti-
tul art. but 10 succeed it Is necessary that
one stall have preliminary knowledge Of
drawing Ii one has not this knowledge it
is best to begin the study by drawing heads
on a large scale and even entire figures; the
latter practice viii give an idea Of just pro-
portions. Copying plaster casts or busts i'll
black aud white, Ill outlines only, Is recon-
mended rs first step, and when these can
be drawn pretty accurately without reQuir-
ing much correction suading may he
taken up
After considerable practice, which. it is
to be assumed, will enable the student to
copy with facility, drawing from the living
model may be undertaken. This, OF course,
implies that the worker Is in earnest In art
study, and certain il is that this practice VIII
help one in all manner Of Sketching. Many
amateurs, however, have not the patience TO
60 thus Systematically at work and these
content themselves with sketchiug or COPY
ing from photographs, and wheir they have
learned to copy accurately proceed ut once
TO minlatufe painting " bile this is not the
approved method, 1t must be acknowledged
that some very plt aSing effects may lie pro-
duced by this very unscienttic means.
Let us suppose, however, that the student
has succeeded in producing a tisfactory
sketch or copy OF photograph or what-nOt,
and wishes TO paint 1t in miniature. Let him
procure thin sheet OF ivory, hardly thicker
than stout paper, taking care in the selec-
ton that is as Tree FROM grain as possible,
especially toward the center, where the face
is 10 be. If the complexion is fair the sur
face of the ivory must be particularly
smooth and even and of creamy tint; Tor
man or for brunette women choose dark
tinted ivory; never choose very white ivory,
as to paint on it successfully requires great
care and an unnecessary amount of work.
Ivory of the proper color will be of great
assistance. 1t must likewise be smooth and
free from scratches or saw marks.
Fix the ivory 10 piece of cardboard a
| little larger than the ivory ITSELF which has
| been previously cut of the exact shape and
| size desired. The ivory is fastened to the
| damp cardboard with some medium thick
| gum passed evenly over It's rough side, after
| which it is pressed down gently and placed
under weight for two or three hours, when
| it will be ready TO paint upon.
The materials required are cvlOrs and
| brushes, some gum water, an ivory pallet
| an eraser, maBulIylDS glass and some
| pieces of clean soft cloth.
Miss Emma Haywood, an expert in minia-
| ture painting, advises that the gum water
| be prepared at home. To do this get a little
| of the purest and whitaSt gum ARABIC posi-
bic in powder; place it in jar with some
| distilled wafer, and pat the jar in saucepan
| Of water. Let the water boil arouni it until
the gum il all dissolved, then strain through
| cloth Into wide-nOuthed bottle and keep
tightly corked when not in use. The gum
| must be smooth and clear and rather thin
| or it will cause the colorS to rack aud peel
off. A few drops of glycerine added will
counterfeit this tendency.
The ivory pallet Is expensive. and while
| not indispenS. bic is desirable, because the
| colors upon it will present the same appear
ance as when applied 10 the painting,
| while Oh white china they will appear quite
| different.
The eraser is used 10 scrape out any part
| that may have become too dark and to pro-
| duce high lights, and must be very sharp,
clean and bright. The magnifying glass is
| used in finishing the picture, and should be
| large enough to use both eyes at once
Great care Is necessary in selecting
| brushes; only three or four are necessary,
| but they must be Of the bcst red sable, aud
more than ordinary care taken in testing
| them to see that they come to fine. even
| point. One brush, at least, should be small
| as possible. For others sizes varying from
| Nos. TO 6 viii be useful.
C0lQrs, like brushes, should be OF the best
quality only. For miniature painting it is
best to use the dry cakes only, as the pig
ments of these are purer and the quantity
used is infnitesimal. OF the most costly
kinds a half or quarter cake will last for
years. The list required as given by Miss
Haywood are sufficient for painting the head
| in a miniature:
Blue black, Brown nader
Van Dyck brown, Nader carinine
Warm sepia, Rose mad1er
Raw lumber. Scarlet yerIniIion,
Raw sienna, Cobalt.
Yellow ochre. Indigo,
Indian yellow, Ultranarfne ash
Pale lemon yellow, Terra vert,
indian red.
To these must be added Chinese white.
OF the other cOlors mentioned the madden
carmine and ultramarine ash are the most
expensive but little If each is ever required.
The madder5 are less liable to fade than the
lakes, and are, therefore. recommended in