The morning call., 1893-01-17
ART IN COLORING.
Something That the Ladies
Can Easily Do.
Marie Evelyn Finds Out What Demand
There Is for Those Who Can
Color Photographs.

Most OF us, In the present day, have
studied painting more or less, and it was
with the desire to discover how far it is
possible to turn this art. when acquired. to
practical account that | sailed forth yester-
day.
Ambition might have prompted me to try
selling an oil painting. but oil paintings, to
be really successful, must be based upon a
Thorough knowledge of drawing. otherwise
Tells chapel tips forward toward the lake.
and the castle OF ST. Angelo possesses the
pleasing characteristic of representing
almost equally well the leaning tower Of
Pisa.
knowing, like many other people, consid-
erably more about painting than drawing.
determined to try whether San Francisco
offers any field for ladies DESTROYS of coloring
photographs.
The coloring of photographs is not an ex-
tremely difficult or lengthy art to acquire.
1t demands taste, patience and good eyes, as
much of the work is extremely delicate
but good teacher can impart the required
knowledge to An apt and willing pupil in a
short time.
yes, we have quite good deal of that
kind Of work DONE" they informed me at
one studio. Just at present we have not a
vacancy. but one may occur at any time and
We should be perfectly willing to give a
newcomer trial. You had BETTER" they
added, go the round of the studios" and
they offered to take my pane and address
and write when press OF work made 1t
necessary to employ another artist.
AT the next studio the report was not
quite so encouraging. "Colored photo
graphs have to great extent gone out OF
fashion," they said. 'What little work in
that liue is still done has been almost run
into the ground by copying companies, 7"
and they went on to say that the lady whom
they employed found time also to do all the
colOring for another large studio.
Evidently the patrons OF some photog-
raphers as a whole prefer their photos plain,
while those Of others incline toward color.
for at the next gallery they assured ire that
at the holiday seasons they were often
actually in want of ladies TO do their color
Ing
''We require very delicate tinting" they
observed. THE trouble with so many
artists is that they put on too much color"
And how would you give beginner a
trial?" ] asked.
I'VE should send her photo to be col
ored." replied the young lady at the desk.
IF the work were satisfactory she would
be paid our usual rates-a dollar for cab
inet, 80 cents for a carte-de-yisite."
At another studio they declared that they
knew nothing about The field that San Fran
beyond the fact that they themselves en-
ploy two ladies constantly, and find plenty
Of work for them.
The pslmy days of coIored photography
are gone" observed the gen tleman to whom
next applied for Information. II remem-
Der the time when we received as much as
$50 and S25 for a eolored photograph-and
there was not the moneys worth of work
in it." he added, frankly "But now things
are entirely changed. Not long ago / had a
lot of sample copies printed, and though
they were well painted l have them still !;
there was no market"
This information was so discouragiDg
that l was glad after that to find two
studios where one or two ladies are given
steady occupations In coloring photogra phs.
"a lady who can color photographs we'll
ought TO have no difficulty In finding en-
ployment," observed one photographer. cit
Is a good thing for an artist to have cards
printed to send them round to all the
studios, fof though some make a speciality
OF colOring, they do II at all the galleries.
more or less" and he went ON to mention
some photographers, one Of whose special
ties Is col0ring.
It was to one of these latter that next
directed my steps. and was met with en-
enlargement at once. Bring some work
tomorrow, they observed. "we will see
what we can do with il. AT times there is
plenty Of work for lady colorist, at others
she IS llaole 10 be out OF employment, and
for that reason we should strongly advise
any one going in for the business to study
ret0uehing at the same time, in order TO
have two strings to her bow" With the
greatest kindness they went on to add. that
if l could paint to their satisfaction, was
at liberty to study retouching gratis.
Considering how comparatively short n
time II takcs 10 acquire the art of painting
photographs. it is rather to be wondered at
that more ladies do not study ii, since paint
ing Of all kinds is so extremely pnnnlar.
MARIE EVELYN.