In aii Old 



The fairest flower 



of the scAson 

 Arc our> carnation 



cliaiacteristics more siirch- when working 

 from them as they grow. 



It is a difficult matter, I l-cnovv, to mass 

 . these growing groups of flowers with good 

 effect, and to know exactlj- to which we 

 should give prominence, and which should 

 be quieted down and allowed to retire, 

 modestly and unobtrusively, into the back- 

 ground. 

 Look at that herbaceous border simply 

 flaming w-ith colour in the heat of the morning 

 sun. The brilliancy of the clumps of nasturtium, 

 marigold, candy-tuft, sweet pea, etc., is dazzling ; but 

 would it make quite a pleasing picture ? Everything 

 is in the same bright key, nowhere can the eye rest 

 from its almost kaleidoscopic effect. I think if it were 

 painted under these conditions it would remind us of some 

 of those modern atrocities of colouring in embroidery and textiles 

 that their perpetrators fondly call " Bulgarian ! " Now a picture 

 wants something more than a mere patchwork effect, however 

 beautiful the colours may be in themselves. 



As our eyes are surely drawn to one object, and our power of 

 vision is attracted to one particular spot, so must we endeavour to 

 concentrate the attention of our spectator to one special [loint of 

 interest, some point that is arrestive of his first glance. 

 Having determined this, let the 

 composition contain some broad 

 spaces of restfulness and quiet, thus 



and streaked not Only affording a welcome relief 



:-i<v</,vi,,. '^o ^^^ ^y^> but by force of contrast 



enhancing, in the most wonderful way, 



the values of the brightness in the 



principal interest in the whole study. 



.And here we cannot fail to be 

 •struck with the immense artistic value 

 of a shadow. It is the same in picture- 

 making as in our lives, I think ; the 

 contrast of the shadow, through which 

 we must all inevitably jjass at some 

 time on Life's journey, has been of 

 great value in helping us to appreciate 

 the sunsiiine lying bej-ond. 



Lately I have been engaged on 

 a commission to paint an old garden 

 full of flowers, and my client was 



