KERAMIC STUDIO 
187 
NARCISSUS STUDY (Page 186) 
Henrietta Barclay Paist 
THE two compositions shown this month are of the 
Narcissus family. Both are the white variety, one 
growing in clusters, the other singly. The single variety 
has a large yellow center tipped with red, and has great 
decorative possibilities. Both emerge from a sheath which 
turns brownish after the flower has bloomed. Both have 
clear green foliage, and both bring the message of Spring. 
As panel compositions, the background may be a neutral- 
ized lavender, or a soft greenish grey; they can be applied 
to a slender vase a la Japanese, keeping the treatment very 
simple. The study may be carried out in natural colors, or 
in a shadowy effect, using greys and grey greens, with 
greyed lavender shadings, against a shadowy grey ground. 
Aside from the possibilities of applying them directly, 
they are valuable as motifs for design. The flowers lend 
themselves readily to conventionalization, but if the foliage 
is utilized, it is best adapted to the tall slender shape with 
straight or concave lines. 
Do not distort the drawing and lose the characteristics 
by adapting to a squatty shape. 
TILE FOR BOOK-ENDS— HENRIETTA BARCLAY PAIST 
THE design shown this month is quite adaptable to 
enamels. A rich Turquoise jar (the "Arabian Blue^ of 
the Cherry palette) with a deeper turquoise band will give 
the keynote for the color scheme. The palmlike leaf forms 
can be of "Mulberry" with smaller areas in 'Arabian Blue." 
The stems may be black and the leaves Deep Turquoise 
against a ground of "Oak Brown." The whole design should 
be strongly outlined in black. 
Another effective color scheme is a warm Satsuma jar— 
with black markings against a deep turquoise ground, with 
the palmleaf-like forms in black and coral, or orange red; 
the leaves in strong green and the stems black. The whole 
with a strong black outline. 
The book-ends including the plain tiles have been shown 
for some time in catalogues and form a very useful and 
salable article. 
In this group are several other things such as fern boxes 
and jardinieres. They are most effective in enamels, but 
can be treated in various ways, preferably by grounding 
the colors (dusting them into an oiled surface) . The strong 
rich color schemes are most effective for articles of this 
nature, especially if dark wood forms the setting. 
Art dealers could be induced to handle the book-ends and 
fine florists the fern boxes and jardinieres, as they would 
add materially to a window display. 
