The art of decorating dry goods windows and interiors

by L. Frank Baum

The laying out of a sign requires almost as much study as the making. It is impossible to make a good sign if your layout is bad. Always allow plenty of margin to your card and do not crowd or spread your wording.

Measure off an equal distance all around your card from the margin, and keep your lettering within these lines.

HOW TO HANDLE THE BRUSH.

The following illustrations show two views of how to hold the brush. It is held very similar to the ordinary position of holding a pen or pencil, except that the brush must be held more upright.

After the brush is well rubbed in paint (on your glass) practice holding it as shown in the illustration. Rest your hand on your little finger. The flat side of the brush should be horizontal to the line. In making the Devinne series of lettering, your horizontal lines are always fine, while the down strokes are heavy. To make this letter it is unnecessary to move the brush in your fingers, hold it firmly, and as you become accustomed to handling it you will find that a very little pressure while making the heavy line will produce the desired effect.

In making solid letters of the same thickness throughout, a little practice will enable you to revolve the brush in your fingers (as in making an O) so that you can produce the curved portion of a letter the thickness of your brush without removing it from your card. To do this requires considerable practice and “if at first you don’t succeed” try several times; don’t give it up—you may do it correctly the next attempt.

In making the rapid brush letters, hold the flat side of the brush at the same angle as your letter; the down strokes must be fine, the upper and lower ones heavy. To a beginner this style will come very easy.

SPACING.

Treats of the arrangement of letters and words at the proper distances. Good taste requires that the letters and words should look about the same distance apart; the space on the line which the words occupies should be evenly filled. If this is neglected the lettering will look “patchy”—crowded in one place, scattered in another.