KERAMIC STUDIO 
TREATMENT FOR STUDY OF VIOLETS ( FOR china ) 
Marshall Fry, Jr. 
FIRST PAINTING — After the position of spray has been 
located on plate, and general forms indicated with 
sketching pencil, the flowers may be washed in with violet 
No. 2, banding blue and Copenhagen blue. It seems most 
natural to begin with the important cluster, in which are 
found the deepest darks and sharpest lights, and the latter, 
when noted, enable one to see what value and accent to give 
the less prominent portions of study. The leaves require 
moss, royal, brown and shading greens, also lemon yellow- 
The work should be kept very delicate and simple for first 
painting, reserving detail and dark accents for the second. 
For background wash a little Albert yellow under large 
bunch, continuing towards edge of plate with a mixture of 
yellow brown and brown green. The light tint at left of plate 
is Russian green, the dark side at top being ruby toned down 
with banding blue, and the suggested blossoms at the right 
are Copenhagen blue. The straggling violets should be 
brushed in while background is still moist. The piece is now 
ready for a hard firing. 
SECOND PAINTING — Flowers may be retouched with same 
colors employed before, using violet No. 2 for crisp touches 
and banding blue in pale washes, adding a bit of yellow brown 
to centers. Leaves will need light washes of lemon yellow and 
moss green, with detail suggested with royal and brown 
greens. Background can be made deep and rich at bottom 
by painting over with brown green and yellow brown, merg- 
ing into Copenhagen blue at the left. Wash deep blue green 
and Russian green over dark color and suggested flowers at 
the top. 
A THIRD PAINTING is often necessary, which consists of 
washes and accents, using about the same colors as before. 
Second and third firings should be lighter than the first. 
