KERAMIC STUDIO 
233 
(intertwining) to be a medium shade of dull brown. The 
leaves of course to be two shades of green, using any greens 
convenient but do not mix them too hot in color. The 
very dark background to the bands and small panels, a 
dark dull blue, using Dark Blue, a little Purple and Black. 
The outer petals of the flowers to be painted in soft Japa- 
nese red, shaded toward the center, using Capucine Red 
with a little Yellow Ochre. Outline very carefully done 
in gold. Remember a good outline makes the 1 flower. 
Centers of flowers can be cream enamel with the center 
of this gold. For cream enamel use two parts Relief and 
one part Hard White enamel, tinting it with Mixing Yellow. 
Buds may be a dull blue, or soft red or cream enamel. 
ASTER DESIGN FOR VASE 
A. A. F razee 
'TpHIS study is for a twelve inch vase. For the scheme of 
*■ color here given it is better to use a gold outline. 
The plain panels to be soft cream. All narrow bands 
EVE— DECORATIVE PLAQUE 
D. M. Camp ana 
HIGH part of plaque in olive green with fruit in light 
blue. Lower part, dark grey with flower in pearl 
grey. Outlining in darkest green. Figure covered with 
bluish grey, nearly white. Background pearl grey. Dec- 
orative motive is the curve of the tree, and the snake. 
The leaning light figure in the center conveys also a round- 
ing impression, well adapted to plaque decoration. 
•f ** 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
Mrs. J. H. E. — If in putting lustre on a piece of china in which the design 
is already painted, the lustre should be washed over a portion of the painting, 
no particular harm would be done if the painting were quite dry except that 
the paint would necessarily be affected by the color of the lustre, also the 
glaze might not be quite as brilliant. As a matter of fact some decorators 
paint little flowers right over the dry lustre without ill effects except the 
change in color. However it is a dangerous practice, for if the color or 
lustre should be too wet a nasty mess would be made which could not be 
remedied except by taking off everything and starting fresh. 
A. R. — In the public schools, drawing is taught by the teacher, putting 
on the blackboard an outline of some object or animal which the children copy. 
The blocks are a little difficult for young children as they are apt to wish to 
draw all four sides at once because they know they are there. There is a set 
of six elementary text books of art for children, published by Prang & Co., 
University Place, New York., which are exceptionally good, teaching color 
as well as black and white. If the child wishes to draw encourage him to 
make memory sketches. That seems the best beginning. My boy of six 
draws more or less every day, starting with a house with door, window, chim- 
ney, etc., he adds something new almost every time, showing that he is stock- 
ing his memory. He has a child's "painting book" which he colors. For a 
few days he traced the outlines of animals, figures, etc., through tracing paper, 
then he began to draw the outlines to see how well he could do without trac- 
ing. If a child takes naturally to it you can trust him to show you when he is 
ready to go a step further ; if he has no particular taste for it, it would be better 
to follow a course such as the Prang Books. The first step in designing is 
the repetition of some simple unit between two horizontal lines, making a 
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