FLOWER PAINTING
It would be impossible in this small work to go into detail of this subject, considering the number of flowers we would have to deal with—consequently we will deal only with the most popular subjects. When painting an American beauty rose, paint the center and shadows in crimson purple, mixed with about one-sixth part of darkest green. The half shadows are done in crimson purple, leaving the lighter parts white. Use colors of medium thickness. The piece is then ready for the first firing.
Next go over the light parts with American beauty color, but treat the shadows with crimson purple. Be especially careful about keeping the shape of the rose as true as possible. Use crimson for the detail work of the petals. Fire the second time.
If a third firing seems necessary, retouch, using the same colors.
When very delicate shades are desired, in rose painting, a light dusting of brown-green toward the centre will prove effective. Some of it can be dusted over the background. This should be done before the second firing. The centre of a rose should always be a pure rose color. If colors are applied too thickly, they are sure to chip off. It has been learned by experience that dark greens are the most satisfactory to use with purple or ruby when dark effects are needed. Blacks and browns mixed with purple usually oxidize.
LEAF PAINTING
The average artist pays too little attention to the foliage in flower painting. He starts out to paint a flower and the leaves seem like a secondary consideration. Any handling is often thought to be good enough. This is a great mistake, as the treatment of the leaves may be the making or marring of a decoration. Many people are of the opinion that they are very easy to paint. This is another mistake. They are just as difficult and require as careful handling as the flowers or fruit itself. It would be very hard to give definite instructions on this subject. The many varieties with their various beautiful edges and veinings, need individual handling, just as much as flowers do. The shape of the article on which the decoration is placed, has much to do with the handling.
There are, however, a few rules that will generally apply.