The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-10-16

Take your eyes off that textbook for
few moments and let us survey the
field What Is the world Offering to-
day for draughtsmen and pattern max
ers? They may ask almost any price,
and then be overrun with work, Many
iron workers are compelled to make
their own patterns, simply because
they cannot find some one else to do
it. Designers for wall papers, surface
covers, and cards are in great demand.
The work is delightful and also lucra-
tive. Have you ever noticed crowd
stand in front of an attractive show
window, and freely express their sat
isfaction at the taste displayed? This
work must be done-t1ve dollars win
dow is worth trying for, Home decor
ators are just as mucn in demand, and
never in the history of the world was
there such an opening for illustrators.
Our magazines and papers speak as
much through the pictures as through
the printed page. Fabulous prices are
often paid for the sketch of one head.
These beside sign painting and design
ing for rugs and upholstery offer
pleasant occupation with liberal re-
turns. The architects field stands
approved. What school study pre-
pares the child for this work? None
but drawing.
But the school prepares for more
than money making, and in the pre-
paration of the pupil for thought COM
munication nothing is better than draw
ing. Have you never read more in
the picture than in the story? Could
you not feel the dream in the air of
an Indian summer scene, or the glory
in young health in one of Gibson's
American girls? Do you not hesitate
while Priscilla waits to explain to Al
den by the sea shore, or laugh at the
babes first step? Have you no tears
for the little worn shoe, the empty
chair, or the crucified Christ? Is this
not communication Of thought or i'm
pulse?
How often we hear one declare,
when the soul is filed with an I'M
speakable hush over one of Gods sun
sets, ooh, if l were only. an artist"
He has a feeling grand and noble he
wants the world to receive, and he, too,
may preserve for his own satisfaction
when the financial world crowds close
upon him and says there is no God.
There is a private joy in the dip
and dab of the brush, or sketch by pen
or pencil-a time when you can relax
and live in the beautiful. Can you
study the beautiful without having
your minds and hearts filled with it?
These are the springs of life, GAS a
man thinketh in his heart, so is he"
From the beauty which attracts the
eye to the character that lies back of
the noble face is short step, and
again your thoughts mould you.
Individuality is one of the necessary
requirements to drawing, especially
decorative and representative. You
look, you think, you act-positively
have to. No one else can see it for
you. The pupil must be observing, re-
tentative, and attentive.
Drawing then has it's place in the
curriculum of the school and front
place, too, or the boys and girls re-
main undeYeloped.
We expect this year to teach the
children to correctI represent or
draw form. To carefully plan before
anything not only in con-
nection with drawing but all work. We
expect to create an art atmosphere
among the children, and a knowledge
of what is good picture or form and
what is not.
10 develop such love of the beauti-
full that the private life of the child
will be effected and lastly, ever, and
through all, to help the child express
his own feelings by the use of pencil
or brush.