DRAWING. 



little light and shade projected from .the 

 ornaments. Contrast, when artfully con- 

 trived, is the true secret of producing 1 re- 

 lief; for instance, a plain light surface will 

 not relieve from the paper; but if the 

 same surface has part of its depth shad- 

 ed, as if placed obliquely, it assumes 

 solidity : thus, if too deeply darkened 

 objects are connected, they will appear 

 on the same line ; but if afaint light, de- 

 rived by reflection from some neighbour- 

 ing" substance, is thrown upon the most 

 distant, it will detach itself, and give an 

 idea of separation from the other : hence 

 it follows, that shade should always be 

 opposed to light throughout a landscape, 

 but in that judicious manner pointed out 

 by nature, whose operations in this case 

 must be closely examined and ascertain- 

 ed, as they are often so faintly and capri- 

 ciously performed as to elude an eye un- 

 accustomed to accurate observation : let 

 it be remembered, besides, that her con- 

 trasts are never violent and glaring-, 

 ever declining" in force with the dis- 

 tance of the objects ; those in the front 

 of a view require the most attention, as, 

 every part being near, they become per- 

 fectly distinct, and must be represented 

 with the strongest colours suited to the 

 substance. 



There are some other rules proper in 

 drawing ; particularly, if a flower is to be 

 copied from nature, it is usual to begin 

 with the centre, proceeding thence with 

 the leaves composing it to the extremi- 

 ties, which method enables the student 

 to lay them one above another,in the cor- 

 rect and beautiful manner they are dis- 

 posed by the Great Author of all things. 

 In colouring those fascinating 1 objects > 

 infinite skill is required in blending their 

 tints so as to keep each clear and bright. 

 In observing birds, it will be found that 

 the feathers of the head are smallest, 

 whence they proceed to the tail in five 

 ranges. In this instance, and in draw- 

 ing animals, every precaution cannot be 

 too closely attended to, which will give 

 their true characteristics. 



Having completed the necessary in- 

 structions for drawing 1 by the improve- 

 ment of a native genius, or inclination for 

 the study of the fine arts, which is known 

 to be inherent in some, and utterly un- 

 known to the majority of mankind, we 

 shall next notice what may be termed 



Mechanical drawing, which is indispen- 

 sable in many pursuits, and amusing to 

 all, whose time might be less profitably 

 employed. To draw plans, maps, and fi- 

 gures of new inventions well, geometry 



and perspective must be thoroughly un- 

 derstood, particularly if elevations and 

 sections of buildings are attempted : to 

 proceed regularly, the free use of the 

 black pencil ought to be attained, after 

 which the use of Indian ink with afine pen 

 should be acquired, with a facility of draw- 

 ing- lines either with or without a ruler, 

 particularly curves beyond the range of a 

 small compass : to those are to be added 

 the doctrines of light, shade, and reflec- 

 tion, and an easy, careless method of sha- 

 ding, which is readily accomplished, if in- 

 struments of any kind are to be copied, as 

 they may be placed in the most favoura- 

 ble light at pleasure. Taste is out of 

 the question in this branch of the art, 

 merely suited to the architect, the phi- 

 losopher or mathematician, and the geo- 

 grapher. Young ladies of fortune, and 

 persons fond of pleasant employment, 

 may derive information from the follow- 

 ing modes of proceeding in copying, 

 tracing, &c. &c. 



Tracing paper is readily made by taking 

 a sheet of very thin silk, or other paper, 

 and rubbing it over gently with some soft 

 substance, filled with a mixture of equal 

 parts of drying oil and oil of turpentine, 

 which, suspended and dried, will be fit 

 for use in a few days, or it may be had at 

 any of the colour shops. Lay this trans- 

 parent material on the print or drawing- 

 to be transferred, and with a sharp black 

 lead pencil trace the outlines exactly as 

 they appear through the paper. If more 

 permanent or stronger lines are wished, 

 ink mixed with ox-gall will be necessary 

 to make it adhere to the oiled surface. 



Tracing against the light : there are two 

 methods; one to lay the print, &c. flat 

 against a pane of glass, with thin paper 

 over it, when the lines appearing through 

 it are to be followed by the lead : the 

 other is more convenient, and consists of 

 a frame inclosing a square of glass, sup- 

 ported by legs, on which the paper is 

 laid as before, and a candle placed behind 

 the glass A pen and ink may be used 

 in this manner, but they cannot in the 

 former instance. 



Another method of using transparent pa- 

 per. Take a piece of the size required, 

 and rub rUequally over on one side with 

 black lead reduced to a powder, till the 

 surface will not readily soil a finger, then 

 lay a piece of white paper,with the black 

 ed paper and leaded side next to it, un- 

 der the print, and securing 1 them firmly 

 together with pins at the corners, pro- 

 ceed to trace the outlines with a blunt 

 point, and some degree of pressure, 



