South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-09
Simple Designs
Add Distinction
in Wall Painting

tft " GSGb Il GESESSHfSo
One Of the transformations
brought about by the war has result
ed in the appearance of new le-
gion in England, that of those who
do things for themselves" instead
of depending on others to work for
them; and one of the latest trades
TO be invaded by these energetic
and practical people is that Of dec
Grating and house painting. Glasses
have been formed which teach the
foundations Of the craft, and many
a home has been made fresh, clean
and attractive by it's women folk
which otherwise would have been
dingy and faded.
Man has always loved to decorate
his walls. From the heights of the
masterpieces of the genius of past
ages, to the untaught efforts OF our
legions of those who do things"
seem a sharp descent; but. fortu-
nately, they are undaunted, and
some of them, not content merely
to cover the surface Of the walls
with paint in the ordinary way, are
trying their skill at design painting
as well, thus attempting, at any
rate, to reconquer a little space in
their homes from the domain Of the
machine made and ordinary.
BY this means, they have rem
dered man. an uninteresting hall
and passage striking, and the cot
tage stairway fat passage and even
the homely bathroom have become
delightfully."- original and artistically
satisfying. Smaller adventures, such
as friezes in rooms and quaint
frames for doors, mantlepieces and
looking glasses, have had equally
good results. The difficulty seems
10 be, not where TO begin, but
where to stop. The question may
be asked: Shall we too join them
First and foremost comes the de-
sign. and. for the unskilled in draw
ing, reproductions Of Jacobean en-
broideries, good Chinese wall papers
and dragons and such like folk
from Oriental porcelain all yield
simple and effective patterns. Hav-
ing traced the design, enlarging or
adapting il a little as required, II
should be transferred with carbon
paper to cardboard or thick draw
ing paper, according to its charac-
/ ter.
Simple designs. such as bouquets
/ or dragons for friezes, should be
done on cardboard, while for more
complicated ones, such as Jacobean
trees and flowers. thick drawing pa
/ per should be used, so that. If nee.
/ essary, the design cane be cut into
/ sections and in this way be render
| ed easier 10 place on the wall The
design, having been transferred in
outline. should be cut out all round
thus forming a sort OF stencil which
after careful measurement and
| spacing, can be pinned or held Il
the surface Of the wall 70 be dec
! GRATED. A pencil neatly run round
all the edges completes the pro
! cess: the design stands upon tho
wall in outline and can be repeat
ed as often as desired. Stripes and
/ lines are easily negotiated with 7
/ squares and long two-foot rulers
while plates and saucers provide the
zone who does things" with abun-
dant circles. The drudgery over
the fun begins, and the paints come
upon the scene.
For halls and stairways. with bold
upstanding designs. solid black OF
color looks most restful II the de-
sign is in color, a narrow edge OF
| black, gold or contrasting color
carefully done. when the design &,
perfectly dry. gives finish and tone
For friezes and room decoration
mixed colors look more CHEEKY and
interesting. A pretty plan is TO re
produce the leading feature OF tn.
chintz or linen coverings, as
frieze upon the walls and around th'
doors.
As to the medium with which u
work. For painted walls oil color
must be used. but. where IL is in
tended to decorate plain paper-hunl
walls. the mat water colors sold II
small jars are delightfully."- effective
as they have a mass and volume o
color like oil, and dry sOlidly. no
in streaks. as ordinary water colo,
is so apt 10 do IN the hands OF th'
unskilled. Walls papered in plaiI
white. sunlight. or string coloreS
paper form splendid foundations To-
design painting. though. OF course
the richest and most permanent ef
fects are obtained where paint alone
IS used