The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-02-23
By TOM +. BROWN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
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During the summer Of 30 Constance
Phillips, an art student chose the
coast Of Maine for a fed in which to
paint Pictures. There i, al island on
that coast which has been made pre-
eminent among its neighbours by a
celebrated authorizes, who located one
of her stories there. Halr ct Bcecher
Stoves Pearl Of Orr's island has
been read by millions Of her fellow
colintrymen, thus fa1niliariZing them
with at least the name Of the locality.
Miss Phillips, being alone. stopped at
q small hotel near the house i'll which
Mrs. Stowe wrote her story. III the
morning after breakfast she would
take her artists parapholnalin AMI
start out III 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
strip of Casco bay. There she set
up her easel and, embracing in her
subject q bit of the rocks and 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
high order. Like many aspirants for
success in art, she felt ii, but was un-
able to express it. What she had
placed on Til. canvas disappointed her.
She was looking at her work ruefully'
when she heard step behind her and,
! turning, saw Il man descending through
the wild grass and weeds AS he pass
ed her he lifted his; cap and, casting Il
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"
II fear it is; all discrimination" said
Constance, viewing her work lugu-
briously.
"You mean that you are not gifted
with the artistic tOuch!
II fear am not.'
"a good deal depends upon that
which for the want Of better word
l shall call the tricllery 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."
"Tor instance, this bit of rocky cliff
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 different shade from
what it is The rock, being in the
foreground, is the most important.
You have got it's 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 a 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 art?" she
asked
II have taught art, but l do not
teach now. I 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 large
and expressive at any time, seemed
more SO 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 her box and was starting
away when the stranger said:
"Have you to carry those things
far"
ITO the village, about a mile up the
island"
do you come back to paint this
afternoon?"
Il expect 10.
'Then it is not necessary that you
should lug them both ways. I have a
shack on the crest, between here and
the road, and you can leave them
there"
"That would indeed be saving of
labor"
He took up 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 Few
weeks in summer or for "the season" ~
There was a broad porch on three
sides Of it, and it's occupant, setting
down the artists materials on the
porch, said:
""They may remain here till you re.
turn in the afternoon, and il yoa don't
come again today will take them III
side and keep them for you till you
/