The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-13

inal of the picture. and that, however
much he may think the world owes his
talent living, it takes it out in indebt-
edness. To achieve greatness in any
chosen path of art requires constant
study and dedication OF self to hard
work, a continual expanding OF the
mental qualities to fathom the nature of
your subject, as we'll as the complete
mastery of the scientific mechanism OF
your work. 1t is preposterous to think
the illiterste mind can grasp an ade-
quate idea OF the face of scholar
and put upon canvas the mental
qualities of an illustrious writer unless
he can conceive the greatness of the
mind before him. Therefore the sue
cessful artist must possess culture, not
alone in his art but in literature and sci-
ence. He must be able to grasp before
he can paint intelligence. and the science
of his work must dominate every idea
pertaining TO the picture. Great care is
necessary in placing the sitter, especially
iE portraiture: for not alone in graceful
posing is success the personality of the
individual must be given careful study,
Rs in our attitude do we express much
OF our disposition. Take the poetic.
dreamy nature, and though the individ-
usl may be short of figure and unwieldy
in proportions, you will yet find yield
ing grace which will place the person so
readily in position of ease that even
the artist is surprised at his success.
Put this same individual into a dramatic
pose, or give him the alert air never abb
sent from the inancier, and you change
essentially the characteristics of his
familiarity, though the face be excellent
I'll Al H. - 49, -
the dramatic fire for that of the must
clan who sees nor hears anything but
his instrument, and the portrait will
give you no idea of the great tragedian
though we catch the genius which gilt
tiers in his eye. We have found the
most successful result. not in carrying
out any preconceived ideas OF what
would be magnificent or beautiful in al
attitude. but in watching patiently
through several sittings for that grace
and ease which is the heritage of all
mankind in their own peculiar style.
After the first feeling of reserve has
passed away, the mind fully occupied
and entertained, our sitter unconscious
ly settles for comfort into pose OF both
ease and grace, and, it is needless to
add, thoroughly habitual. This, caught
for reproduction upon the canvas, and
we have an ensemble that all the art of
the artists ideals could not excel in con-
nection with the personality of the ia
dividual before him. Thus, we find
that an important adjunct is the chair
upon which the person sits. and
variety of styles necessary from which
to choose. The accessories so foreign to
art are yet of the utmost Importance
in the production OF picture, and are
worthy the careful consideration of the
artist, no matter how great his genins or
what his capabilities are. think, as a
rule, few artists give the study OF back
ground the necessary Importance, for /
have known many who, after the COM
pletion OF head, ask what would you
do with the background; and in vain
they search to find something harmon
ious. Early in the study OF painting |
discovered that color was only certain
shade from its relative value, and tried
an experiment, which thoroughly DEM
onstrated how very important matter
is the selection of a background in the
commencement of picture, and not
something to be decided as the work ad
vances. Taking a pink flower. made
a careful study against blue back
ground. Removing this background,
and putting red behind it, painted an.
other study; changing this for yellow.