26 
KERAMIC STUDIO 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
This column is only lor subscribers whose names appear upon our list. Please 
do not send stamped envelopes for reply. The editors can answer questions only 
in this column. 
M. C. A.— We have' given many charming borders for dinner plates. 
For a dinner plate such as you wish, the plain straight edge is the best, or 
the festoon edge. The vegetable dishes and platters should match the plates, 
with the same border. We would suggest keeping the painting of vour roses 
all on the rims, with only warm bands of color and gold on the extreme edge 
You will then have something that will be in good style. 
u . S"F' 5 ,— T her< r is nothin g that will remove well fired paint from china 
but Hydro fluoric acid. Heat the piece of china— pour wax over it and when 
cold remove wax from paint to be taken off. Dip the end of a pointed stick 
into acid and then rub on color until loosened from china; then rinse off in 
running water and remove wax last of all. To remove gold or lustre, Aqua 
Regia can be used. It is not necessary to cover with wax as this acid does 
not remove glaze. Care must be taken, however, not to inhale the fumes of 
either acid as they are said to injure the lungs, All makes of colors can be 
used alike and together. Powder colors, of course, being first mixed with 
medium prepared for them— usually a mixture of copaiba and clove oil. Six 
parts of the first to one of the latter. To get an even deep color, the first 
coat of dusted color must be fired and then dusted again. It is not possible 
to put a second coat before firing. 
Mrs. V. S. F.— As soon as you become a yearly subscriber we will be 
glad to furnish all possible information and instruction. 
Mrs. E. A. K.— See answer to C. E. R. 
A. F. C— Copenhagen and Copenhagen Blue are the same colors. 
I here is also a Copenhagen Grey, which is a soft grey, a little darker than 
Pearl Grey. There are no corresponding colors in La Croix. Delft or old 
blue would be the nearest in tone, perhaps adding a little black. 
Mrs. C. de S.— We would advise putting your monogram or coat of arms 
in flat gold or color if used in the center of a plate, as otherwise it would be 
scratched by knife and fork. Never put lustre over color before firing the 
atter. It is not advisable to use lustre over dusted color or deep color of anv 
kind. 3 
B. S. M.— Cement for mending china should stand as many fires as the 
china itself. You can put lustre over color which has been already fired if the 
color is not heavy, but when paint is put on as thick as black outlining usu- 
ally is, the color will chip off if lustre is fired over it. It would be best to 
make your outline first with a mixture of syrup and black (sugar and water 
boiled to a thin syrup) then put your outlining on very thin and grey looking, 
only dark enough to keep the designs. Then when your lustre is sufficiently 
deep in color, go over your outlining the last fire and everthing will come out 
right. 1 he first outlining can be put on before anything else and the lustre 
or colorwashed over it as turpentine or other mediums will not disturb the 
sugar and water mixture. If you will read carefully our directions for raised 
paste, we think you will find out the cause of 'your trouble. Use only thick 
oil of turpentine and lavender and a great deal of breath. A very little oil to 
mix paste and breathe on it before putting in lavender and afterward too till 
it curls up with the palette knife and stays put; if it gets too stiff, use a little 
more lavender and breath until just right. 
For background of Fleur delis painted naturalistically, we would suggest 
Copenhagen Blue, Yellow Brown, Pompadour, and if a dark effect is desired, 
finishing Brown. India Ink is the best outlining for figure work. We do 
not understand how a little turpentine on a rag could wash it off. Try Higgins 
water proof India Ink. We will not forget your monogram if you will let us 
know what it is. We suppose it is not B. S. M., with which you signed 
your inquiries. Your letter was signed simply Mrs. . A monogram 
is best on the rim of a plate. Yes, we think it is in good taste used in the 
right place and not too large. 
.._ M , rs - L - F - S.— Not knowing the exact shade of your scarlet flower it is 
difficult to suggest colors for painting in water color. The color depends a good 
deal on the surroundings and vice versa, the surrounding background depends 
on the color of the flower. The only way to do is to paint what vou see in 
the way of color. Notice that a scarlet flower is not all scarlet. You will probably 
see that the high lights are bluish and the shadows purplish. Use cobalt 
with your reds, where you see it bluish, and yon will get more luminosity. We 
would suggest rose madder as having a bluish tone for high lights and crim- 
son lake in deep tones with cobalt Alizarin crimson is also a good color 
Where the tone is a clear scarlet use a little vermilion or scarlet lake or yellow 
to get the tone with the madder or crimson. For yellows use lemon, gam- 
boge or Indian yellow, according to the desired tone. For background use 
rose madder and cobalt to make violet tones, adding yellow to get greenish or 
brownish tones. Never paint " out of your head," but try to paint just what 
you see without too much detail, try to see color and shade in masses first 
and then add the finer touches. 
G. S. P.— Write to Marsching or Favor & Ruhl for glass colors. Their 
advertisement is in this number. Use ground glass if you wish, it is not 
necessary, but use a good quality of glass. You will have to make tests with 
broken bits of glass to find out just how hard to fire, as each kiln differs. 
Usually glass is fired as soon as the kiln shows red; there is no regular time 
to fire, it depends on the color of kiln ; one firing might be enough. You 
can fire glass again, but added fires just make added risks. 
J S.L^carfe/teT*. 
TULIP CUP 
F. E. Linger felt er 
THE background on this cup 
is a light greenish gray 
(mix Apple Green and Pearl 
Gray). 
The flowers are a delicate 
Rose Pompadour, and the 
leaves Ivory Yellow. Outlines 
of gold. 
