DIRECTIONS FOR MIXING COLOURS.
Place the powder required in a saucer: add a few drops of water, and rub the same with a brush for some time; as friction materially improves the brilliancy of tint. The colour should be mixed as thick as cream, but a very small portion taken into the brush at one time. As the brushes are large, they absorb a large quantity of colour; consequently, the brush used to mix the colour with, must be pressed upon the edge of the saucer several times to cleanse it.
The cake paint is used with the powder colours for fine veining, and when a second colour is required to be placed over another; as I shall show in my instruction for the rich dahlia purpurea. I have a great objection to mixing gum water with the colours. I use it only previous to throwing on down, such as in the calyx of geranium, primrose, &c.
A rich crimson is produced by the application of the crimson powder upon pink wax.
A darker crimson, by adding a little of the darkest crimson powder to the former. If a deeper crimson still be required, add a little of the middle blue.
A pale pink is obtained by applying crimson powder with a small portion of white, laid on the wax very thin.
A light orange scarlet, as in fuchsia fulgens, is acquired by mixing a minute portion of scarlet powder with the bright crimson.
Scarlet for geranium; a larger portion of the scarlet with the crimson.
Different shades of scarlet are also produced by laying the crimson powder upon different shades of wax, namely, lemon, yellow, and orange.
A purple (as in violet), is produced by mixing the second blue with a lesser portion of the bright crimson powder.