THE BLOCK, OR PAD.
This consists of a number of sheets of charcoal paper, cut exactly the same size, laid together and pressed so as to greatly reduce the bulk of the paper in its ordinary shape. These form a block or table of sufficient substance and firmness to be held comfortably upon the knees while sketching.
The upper leaf is used for the drawing, and is then loosened with a penknife passed around the edges, which are held together with a band of paper. This leaf is then easily detached from the block, and being fixed is laid aside while another drawing is commenced on the clean sheet exposed on the top of the block.
These blocks can be bought already prepared at any good art dealers at reasonable prices, which vary according to the size and quality of the paper.
A block made of ordinary French charcoal paper measuring 4½×6 inches costs at retail, 25 cents. A small block like this is only good for pocket sketches and notes. A more useful size is 6×9, which may be obtained for 35 cents.
A still larger one, measuring 10×14, can be procured for 70 cents. Any thing beyond this must be made to order, and will in that case be more expensive in proportion.
A small camp stool is necessary to the sketching outfit, and this should be made as light as possible. These are made in various shapes, so as to fold up as tightly as possible, and are provided by all dealers at from fifty cents up.
Some are even to be found combined with the sketching easel. These are very convenient, being made in so compact a form as to occupy very little more space than either an easel or camp stool separately.
Such an apparatus costs $5.50 at retail. The small, light folding easel for sketching, which is only 4½ feet high, costs $2.50, while a stool which stands upon three legs when open and folds into the shape of a thick cane can be bought for $1.00.