The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-14
An Instructor
In Painting
!. Tale OF
Orr's Island
By TOM F. BROWN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


During the summer Of 10 Constance
Phillips, an art student. chose the
roast Of Maine for field In which to
paint pictures. There is an island on
that coast which has been made pre-
eminent among its neighbors by a
celebrated authoress. who located one
Of her stories there. Harriet Beecher
Stoves Pearl OF Orr's Island" has
been read By millions of her fellow
countrymen. thus famiharizing them
with at least the name Of the locality.
Miss Phillips, being alone. stopped at
a small hotel near the house In which
Mrs Stowe wrote her story. In the
morning after Breakfast she would
take her artists paraphernalia and
start out In search Of a scene to trans
fer to canvas. But she found nothing
Of the marine order that pleased her
more than the view looking eastward
from the lower end Of the island. De-
Sending an incline, she found herself
Just above rocky shore overlooking
strip OF Casco bay. There she set
up her easel and. embracing In her
subject bit of the rocks and a bit Of
the ocean, began her work.
Constance painted all the morning,
but unfortunately her ability to trans
fer to canvas what she saw was not Of
a high order. Like many aspirants for
success In art, she felt 1t, but was I'M
able to express 1t. What she had
placed on the canvas disappointed her
She was looking at her work ruefully
when she heard step behind her and,
turning, saw a man descending through
the wild grass and weeds. AS be pass
ed her he lifted his cap and, casting a
glance at her picture, paused, looking
from 1t to its subject
you have selected quite an attrac-
tive view" he said. your discrimi-
nation In this respect Is proved by
your having chosen the best there is
here
II fear 1t Is all discrimination" said
Constance. viewing her work lugu
briously.
you mean that you are not gifted
WltQ the dTllSIlc lOuCu
II fear am not"
"A good deal depends upon that
which for the want Of a better word
/ shall call the trickery Of art. There
are all sorts Of methods of producing
effects which. though In themselves
mechanical. tend to successful paint
Ing Judging from this bit of work,
fancy you have something to learn In
this respect"
Lots"
For instance. this bit Of rocky cliff
Is depicted against that wood across
the water. The cliff Is of dark
brown, the wood a dark green. two
dark substances. the one directly be-
hind the other. You must make one
of them of a different shade from
what it Is. The rock, being in the
foreground, Is the most important.
You have got its color to perfection.
The wood. being distant, would bear
more blending with it's neighboring
objects. 1t will bear tightening,
which will darken the rock"
Constance mixed some colors on her
palette, gave the wood beyond the
rock dab and was quite pleased with
the improvement. The rock stood out
boldly, while the wood appeared at
Its proper distance.
Are you teacher of artY' she
asked.
II have taught art, but do not
teach now. am interested at present
in regaining my physical strength.
which Is somewhat run down"
Constance noticed that he was pale
and thin. His eyes. which were largo
and expressive at any time. seemed
more 30 in his invalid condition. She
thanked him for his suggestion and,
removing her canvas, folded her easel
and her stool, put her palette and
paint In he- box and was starting
away when the stranger said:
Have you to carry those things
farY'
ITO the village. about mile up the
island"
do you come back to paint this
afternoonY'
expect TO.
Then 1t is not necessary that you
should lug them both ways. I have
shack on the crest. between here and
the road. and you can leave them
there"
THAT would indeed be a saving OF
labor"
He took up a part Of her belongings
while she carried the rest, and they
walked together up little path to one
Of those summer cottages containing
only beds, chairs and cheap tableware
which city folk rent either for q few
weeks in summer or for 1.-The season"
There was a broad porch on three
sides Of 1t, and its occupant, setting
down the artists materials ON the
porch, said:
They may remain here till you re-
turn in the afternoon, and If you don't
come again today l will take them in
side and keep them for you till you
need them"
"You are very kind" Constance re-
Piled. "Do you live here all aloneY'
For the present. / go back to the
city early In September"
II will relieve you Of my belongings
about O'Clock this afternoon"
"lf it is not necessary that you
work all day I would advise you not
to do So"