KERAMIC STUDIO 
167 
the palette until the brush is flat and the hair does not separate 
and the color should be evenly distributed in the brush and 
should be the tone that you wish for the china. If the color 
to be is rather light and delicate use very little color in the 
brush and if a heavy color is required take up more color in 
the brush. It is very important to have the color just right 
in the brush before applying it to the china. 
Have a jar of turpentine before you and dip the brush in 
it occasionally and then press it against a rag so that it absorbs 
most of the turpentine, enough Painting medium should also 
be used in the brush to make the color work smoothly though 
care should be taken not to use too much or the work will 
become full of lint. Apply the color as evenly as possible, 
conventional work should be flat and of an even tone. While 
applying the color after you have put in a few strokes go back 
over it with a light touch just dragging the brush over the 
surface, this should be done with the very tip of the brush, 
the tip should not bend at all and the brush should be held 
very lightly in the hand so that it will almost drop from it, 
this gives an opportunity for a very loose light touch and 
blends the color together taking out all brush strokes. 
The edge of the mint tray between the two outer lines 
is 2 parts Copenhagen Blue and 1 part Banding Blue. The 
dark edge around the olive dish is gold. Do not put this over 
the edge of the dish but just up to it as gold wears badly if it 
is in a place where it is handled much. The gold should be 
put on for both fires. If the colors do not come out just as 
they should in this fire they can be gone over with whatever 
it seems to need. 
A SUGGESTION 
Mrs. Bertha C. Cline 
TO become a successful china decorator the qualifications 
of energy and industry are certainly necessary and a per- 
son intending to master this art should prepare for it by study- 
ing works on design, form and color. 
To be an artist one should possess natural talent, love the 
work and have also the determination to succeed. When we 
know that the man that designs the winning sail-boats is blind, 
with eyes and brains we should certainly accomplish wonders 
in our chosen art. 
The treatise on the subject of china decoration that I 
studied was "The teacher of china painting" advertised in 
your beautiful magazine. The book was Greek to me until 
I began taking lessons. No one in my town painted china 
so I went to another town. Between lessons I painted alone 
and thus practiced what I had learned from both teacher and 
book. I began taking lessons in September and sold about 
fifty dollars worth that Christmas. Although I paid it all out 
in express charges, materials, firing, etc., it helped me to learn 
and I did not sell any pieces painted with my teacher. 
The color combination makes the piece beautiful as well 
as the design. I would advise taking more lessons and study- 
ing books and magazines pertaining to this subject and ever- 
lastingly "keeping at it;" this will "keep the fire alive." 
The heights by great men reached and kept, 
Were not attained by sudden flight, 
But they, while their companions slept, 
Were toiling upward in the night. 
MUSH BOWL, INDIVIDUAL SALT CELLAR AND PLATE— ALBERT W. HECKMAN (Treatment page 174) 
