The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-24
They PAINT OR DRAW.
The Longing for the Artistic as II Is
Shown in the Large East
ern Cities.
The Art Craze Has a Very Rein
ing Influence in the Homes
of the Land.
Advice to the Novioo In China Painting
-sOme Beautiful Dessert Plates
Gold In the Fire.

Everybody nowadays either draws Of
paints, says the Philadelphia Record. The
studios and art schools IRE thronged with
pupils, while the number of amateur dab.
blers who pick up here and there what they
can and never have any instruction at all il
legion. This state of affairs leads up to the
query: Does this spasmodic craze for art
tend to any good end? TIL pessimist de-
clares that il does not; that it degrades the
taste for art, and makes art itself Il laugh
ing stock. The optimist. on the other
hand, while conceding that very few of the
ambitious tyros will ever become artists in
any sense of the word, and that tho major
ity will only waste good canvas and fine
pigments ad infnitum, and produce only
bad pictures ad nauseum, takes the ground
that all this dabbling develops art cul-
ture, and that their work thus be-
comes productive of the greatest good.
They will learn to appreciate ant and
artists. BY seeing how bad their " work
ia they will learn to appreciate a better
understanding of what is really good. And
while they are learning this lesson they will
be giving no end of pleasure to family and
friends by their crude efforts, in which
loving friends can find no flaws. BY ali
means, let US take the optimistic view of
the mania for art, and as we journey along
lose no happy day on account Of gloomy
pessimistie forebodings.
A glimpse into almost any household will
convince one that the art craze is not with
out its refining Influences. See the sketches
n paintings (they may be daubs); the
moro harmonious arrangement OF c0lors in
the different rooms, the decorated china on
the sideboard and Oh tho breakfast table.
All these things have their weight with the
minds and hearts of the family and they are
h~ettered by them. Because SO many Of the
attempts to produce melodious oun
fall short Of the mark shall music be
ruled out of the household? And if anna
teur singers be allowed to sing in peace,
why should not amateur painters be Above
to paint without provoking the scorn of
those more gifted or higher up in art? But
the purpose of this article is not a homily.
in art work-tho without a-teacher sort
over some of the rough places they will be
sure to come across.
1t has frequently been urged upon the be
Elnner in china painting to work for some
time in monochrome. The young worker is
prone to aspire to the representation of
realistic flowersin all their variety of color
ing, and while this is regarded as simple
work by the expert, it is sure to lead to
many acknowledgements If undertaken with
out some experience in the manipulation of
mineral colors. A fainting may look fairly
we'll before it il fred, but the action
Of the heat brings out every i'm
perfection md clearly shows every
unevenness in the colors. Strong colors ca
UP the weakness; a few become moro in
tense, and some disappear almost entirely.
BY working in monochrome a gradual
knowledge Of the different oolors and the
effect of the heat upon each is gained. And
single color decorations arc by no means to |
be despised.
A set of dessert plates recently displayed
were marvels of beauty, executed in brown
No. 4, shaded with the same color, with
delicate sprays of dull gold intermingled.
The designs were floral, each plato quite
different in design. The edges, instead OF
being banded or dabbled, as has been so
long the CUSTOM, We're decorated with irreg- |
ular scrolls of gold. to apply whicha thin
fan-shared bristle brush had been used.
which made some of the lilies quite heavy.
Others very fine. The effect was good, and
the work easily done.
Gold applied in this way il easily man
aged, and is almost sure to come out of the
ire Satisfactorily, # the proper precautions
be used. The china must be perfectly
clean; the gold must be of the p'oper CON
slstency, not SO thick that it will be lumpy,
but thick enough to conceal the white of
the china. and must be laid. evenly.
Another set of dessert plates were also
II LloAOCuFOIne III similar ueHlgnS, eaCl
plate being painted in a different shade OF
brown. The edges and sprays were painted
with yellow ochre instead of gold, applied
IN tho same manner as the gold. Some of
the sprays of featherv grasses were lightly
tipped with gold, with excellent effect. In
croix's underglaze blue, with n judioious
lntermingling of gold, is a good color for
monochrome work.
An exquisite combination for mono
chrome is pearl 6 aY and carmine, or brown
or old blue. The gray is laid as fiat as NAV
be over the entire design. after which the
bright color is laid in shadings, outlinings,
VEINS, stamens, etc. Another idea is to use
Two harmonious %colors; for example, yell
low ochre and brown No. 4 and II; carmine
and ruby purple: deep red brown and deep
brown, and so on, adding gold or not as
taste and circumstance dictates. 1t ia not
however. to waste much time or
money on gold work until one knows pretty
we'll how to apply colors.
All disorders caus ed by a bilious state of the