ftOVAMIC STUDIO 
75 
on paper. The ability to make firm, clean- 
cut lines does not come in a day. Take an 
old plate and practise, doing them over and 
over. 
It is a great help to balance the hand by 
means of the little finger, as suggested in the 
lesson on making gold lines. You cannot 
make good lines unless the brush is filled 
with color. Still another point is to drag 
the brush steadily along without lifting it 
any oftener than you can help. Do not 
' make little short hitches at it ; you will never 
get good lines in that way. Any very fine 
lines are best made with the pen; but where 
straight lines are used as a part of the dec- 
oration, they need more strength and char- 
acter, and should be made with the brush. 
Keep your eyes open for suggestions, and 
observe keenly whatever comes your way. 
In many of the magazines you will find 
timely articles on applied arts. Try to 
understand why some things are classed as 
good in design. Apply what you are grad- 
ually learning in these lessons as rules by 
which to judge these things. 
In the picturesque language of the day, 
one must just "plug." There is no royal 
road to learning china painting. Some 
famous writer said that nine-tenths of all 
work is drudgery, and genius is only the 
ability to stick to it. 
LEAGUE NOTES 
THE National League of Mineral Paint - 
Vers, which has been active in the work 
of the development of ceramic art in this 
country during the past eighteen years, dis- 
banded at its sixth triennial meeting. 
The medal which was won at the Paris 
Exposition was presented to the Art In- 
stitute, Chicago. Other property of the 
League was sold and the proceeds placed in 
the treasury. One club still owes ten dol- 
lars for the last travelling exhibition. This, 
when received, will be turned over to the 
Chicago Ceramic Art Association for value 
received. The money in the treasury was 
divided, according to the resolutions passed 
last year, equally between all members 
whose dues were paid up to May i, 1910, 
and each of these members have received 
a check for four dollars from the treasurer, 
Miss Minnie C. Childs. 
The past officers of the League extend 
their hearty thanks to the editors of Kermic 
Studio and to all the members who in anyway 
aided them to carry on the work of the 
League so successfully during the last three 
years until the expiration of their terms of 
office. 
Mary A. Farrington. 
Will our subscribers please send their 
changes of address promptly? 
APPLE BLOSSOMS— ALICE WILLITS DONALDSON 
