98 
RERAMIC STUDIO 
CRAB APPLE BLOSSOMS 
N this edition it has been my 
object to have the studies so 
arranged that they should be 
used for the decoration of china 
as well as for water color studies ; 
for use on china they must be 
decorative, and by that I mean 
conform to the lines and shape of 
the object on which they are 
painted, while a water color study 
is essentially a picture. It has been no small task to do 
this, and I trust that the many readers of Keramic Studio 
will not think that these studies were made to please each 
of them individually, my object was to present a set of 
studies such as my pupils paint, so that all might see and 
perhaps find something to their taste. 
I was much pleased when the Keramic Studio asked 
me to edit this number, and I thought of some new and dar- 
ing decorative schemes, most of which I thought best not 
to use, as at every mail, it seems to me, I received letters 
asking me to make this kind or that kind of a study, but no 
one asked for anything like the "bold ideas" I had in mind. 
And how distressed I have been by the word received 
from the various ones who have written me ! 
One said, "Please do not have any roses in your number, 
as every one has so many now, and besides no one knows 
how to paint a rose." I was overjoyed when I saw by the 
name of the writer that it was no one who knew my work. 
(Treatment page 102) 
Another wished me to do all landscapes, as that was 
what her pupils were studying at the present time, having 
learned all there was to know about painting flowers ! 
Then a visitor from the West wished me to do a "lot of 
little studies," as the big articles were so expensive and her 
pupils could not afford to buy them, adding "and please do 
not do any conventional studies or I shall not buy the book." 
The other day a lady, in discussing the present work of 
the china painters, said very sweetly that she hoped I had 
made a few studies at least that were worth printing, that' 
most of the work was so bad these days it was hard to get a 
good study, and again wished I would have a few good ones, 
So did I, and I mentioned that they were all naturalistic. 
"Such a pity." she said, "as no one paints naturalistic 
now." 
Another visitor, who was charming, said it was so nice 
that "you celebrities" (I was so flattered), never paint any- 
thing that is good, as it gives the others so much more 
opportunity. I might have answered many things, but 
thought of them only the next day, and at the moment 
simply agreed with her, regretting all my great new ideas, 
which, I now fear, would have been disastrous. 
And I realized how difficult it is to try to give to many 
thousand china painters designs that will please each and 
all. Surely one who does the work of editing such a mag- 
azine as the Keramic Studio every month, deserves much 
praise. 
Teana McLennan 
*o£5^ 
