

direct and the simplest way of ex- 

 pressing what you see ; you are 

 cultivating your own individuality 

 and style, not merely adopting a sort 

 of second-hand slickness based on 

 other people's. 



Foliage at all times gives us much 

 to learn ; not only is there immense 

 variety in the structural form of 

 single leaves of different species, but 

 ,,*« when we are drawing a spray or 



i^'^ --*«& branch, the leaves arrange them- 



selves in such a number of different 

 positions that no two seem the least 

 bit alike. Some, pointing towards us, 

 are a wonderful study in fore- 

 shortening ; some, receding from our 

 view, teach us perspective ; some are 

 slightly turned over, and give us a 

 fascinating peep at their under sides, 

 in many cases quite different in colour 

 and always different in texture. \'et 

 with all these differences of arrange- 

 ment, the actual form of the leaf as 

 we first saw it flat before us is still 

 there in e\ery one, and we must not lose sight of its character, 

 whatever its position on the bough. 



The value of a spray of leafage as study of line cannot be too highlj- 

 estimated ; it is an excellent plan to make occasionally an outline 

 drawing onlj-, for no shaded group, however highly finished, can look 

 right if the foreshortening and perspective of its form is incorrect. 



Notice carefully the characteristic shape of the leaves, and how this 

 form is .still there in them all in spite of the different positions in 

 which they fall. The centre vein (or mid-rib^ must not be lo.st sight of 

 in a study like thi.s, for it is mo.st important in determining the direction 

 of the leaf 



It is wise, first of all, to indicate lis 

 direction of the main branch of the 

 spray, even before putting in the 

 leaves falling across it. It can easily 

 be rubbed out where it is not wanted 

 later, and it will not only help you 

 to determine its main direction, but 



;htl\- with faint pencil lines, the 



76 



