The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-23

This practical ques-
ton perhaps does not only forcibly pre-
sent itself to the young woman who has
parents to support her, or who has a
regular income of her own. To her art
for arts sake is the altogether delight
full prospect which stretches out indefi-
nitely in the future.
But, alas, only to = happy few is it
given to work in peace and tranquility
toward their truest ideals.
This is money grubbing, money grab
bing age Everything you do is meas
ured by the price it will bring, and art,
divine art, is no exception to the rule.
If the art student is dependent on her
pictures for living, then must she set
about making marketable ones for that
end.
Hard as it may seem, she must not
expect to earn her salt by the sale of
her oils OF water oolors in the ordinary
way through the medium of the exhibi.
tions or the dealers.
The sales of late years at the semian-
nual exhibitions Of the National Acad-
smy of Design and the Society of Amer
lean Artists have been a surprisingly
small percentage of the pictures hung.
The largest number sold are those of
the men with regulations. An unknown
woman who makes bid for recognition
stands q chance of about | in 500 Of
selling her canvas. OF course the artist
with pull" or rich friends who buy
her pictures to help her along are out of
this reckoning.
When . woman has the exceptional
talent or genius that enables her to cap
ture one Of the exhibition prizes, an or
der or two may be the result, but even
this is far from meaning wealth.
What, then, are the ways open to
womeu who can WELD the pencil or
brush by which they can make living?
Practical designing is q wide and rea.
sonably well paid field. The large car
pet manufactures are always ready to
buy good design. This il q special
branch in itself. The pattern must be
scaled to the number of threads in the
loom. A practical looking design is
much more likely to catch the eye Of
the man ufaoturer than one which shows
no acquaintance with textile needs and
limitations. 1t does not take long to &C
quire the technical side of this art, and
If the artist submits designs which
please she may find . regular and pay
ing market with one factory alone. A
oolored design brings from % to $S5
Wall paper is another good field for
new and artistic ideas. Here again some
technical knowledge is required for the
repeat" of the pattern and its accom-
mediation to the width of the paper
Then there are the manufacturers OF
printed silks and cottons and the max
ers Of draperies and upholstery fabrics
A large percentage Of the latter goods
are now imported. Why? Because the
dealers tell you the foreign artists give
US the most beautiful patterns both In
form and color, but there is no reason
why this should continue to be so. Most
women are especially sensitive to color
combinations. Designing for these
sumptuous textiles would seem to be a
province particularly their own.
Put on your thinking caps, girls
These manufacturers are looking hard
Tor ideas, and they are willing to pay
for them.
Another good field for the Clever
craftsman of the figure is to be found
among the photographers. These firms
furnish pictures for advertising pur-
poses, and they look upon quaint con-
oeit or original fancy as a positive gold
nugget.
Many will remember how several
years ago there appeared in various adj
vertising spaces dainty little golden
haired ohild's face peering out from un.
der the pointed hood Of q monk. re-
member how gleefully the photographer
showed me the sketch, and how he be-
walled the fact that there were not
more designs brought to him with the
same element Of catchy originality and
charm.
The young woman who painted the
pretty child in the hood got a good
price for her sketch and ready sale for
her succeeding pictures
Trade work." perhaps you say, with
sniff. Well, If we must have adver-
Using pictures let them be good ones
II possible. Are you not doing some
thing worth while il you are educating
the masses in artistic form and color?
There is no use of going to any OF
these people unless you bring them
sample Of your work. Their only motto
Is, by their works ye shall know
them. /"
ILLUMINATING Is another large hsld.
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