EXAMPLE OF AN ARTISTIC LAYOUT.
The illustration represents a card 14 × 18 inches (a good window size). The body is lilac, on which is pasted a sheet of cream water color paper, torn around the edge, leaving a margin of two inches. After tearing the paper so as to leave a raw edge, touch the edge lightly with gold; then lay out your work with light lead pencil marks. Copy the layout shown in the illustration as closely as possible, changing the wording to suit. Next make a series of graceful scrolls, taking care not to get them stiff, using a pale lilac. Next daub on a cluster of blossoms, using several shades of purple; that is, mix white with the purple, until it becomes very delicate. The wreath is of a delicate lilac. Make letters and figures purple, shaded with lilac.
Paste paper on card, leaving space on same so that the right hand upper corner may be slightly curled. Tip letters slightly on top with gold, and you will have an artistic card.
The card reading “Japanese Garden,” will be seen ornamented entirely with Japanese characters. It is a point to be remembered that the decorations of a fancy card should always be in harmony with the wording. It is a bad art and bad policy to have your ornaments foreign to the tone of the card. Another illustration, “Signs,” shows an example of an artistic layout. The same design may be used for other purposes, such as to advertise jewelry, laces, wall paper or any decorative goods. But you will see at a glance it would be inappropriate for teas, soaps or flatirons.
The alphabet illustrated is called an antique Roman face. It is an excellent show card style, rather irregular, neat and easily made.
You will notice that I illustrate some examples of artistic layouts. These will form the basis for fancy show cards, and serve to attract attention. When designs of so elaborate a character are used the letters themselves should be especially plain and distinct.
A “sign shop” is an important requisite of a department store, and to establish one in the proper way requires no little skill and judgment. Difficulties and disputes are continually arising between the painter and the heads of departments, which render it necessary to run the sign shop on a strictly systematic basis, in order that the signwriter may do justice to his work.