Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-06
The Argus Daily Short Story
An Instructor in Painting-By Tom'F. Brown
Copyrighted. Associated Literary Press

During the summer of 80 Constance
Phillips, an art student. chose the
coast of Maine for field in which to
paint pictures. There Is an island on
that coast which has been made pre-
eminent among its netghbors by
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 familiarizing them
with at least the name Of the locality.
Miss Phillips, being alone, stopped at
q 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
scending an incline, she found herself
Just above rocky shore overlooking
a strip of Casco bay. There she set
up her easel and, embracing in her
subject bit of the rocks and bit OF
OCcdus began neE WOTh
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 a step behind her and.
turning, saw man descending through
the wild grass and weeds. As he pass
ed her he lifted his cap and, casting a
glance at her picture, paused, looking
from it 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"
IT fear it is all discrimination" said
Constance, viewing her work lugu-
briously.
''You mean that you are not gifted
with the artistic touchF'
"I fear am not"
"A good deal depends upon that
which for the want of better wo5d
/ shall can 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 chn
is depicted against that wood across
the water. The cliff is Of a 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 fits color to perfection
The wood, being distant. you'd bear
more blending with it's neighboring
objects. 1t will bear tightening,
which win darken the rock"
Constanee 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 a teacher OF artT' she
asked
81 have taught art, but do not
teach now ! am interested at present
in regaining my physical strength.
which is somewhat run down.
j Constance noticed that he was pale
and thin. His eyes. which were large
and expressive at any time, seemed
more so I'm 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 her. box and was starting
away when the stranger said:
'tHave you to carry those things