Choose a photograph or print for your copy which is simple in effect—that is, one which shows a good deal of sky and broad stretches of light and shade. It may be either landscape or marine, but, until you have had some experience with the work, avoid figure pieces, and architecture. When you have learned the process be as original as you like, but keep to your copy at first; you will never make an exact reproduction. Use whatever kind of a paint-brush seems best fitted, and work rapidly that the paint may not dry. A fine soft sponge will give excellent foliage effects; this should be dipped in the paint and simply dabbed on the glass. A clean cotton rag will take off extra paint and is especially useful where water is represented in the picture. By dragging the rag or sponge over a surface too thickly painted you can loosen it and give the appearance of grass and shrubbery, or of a roadway. Soft clouds can be made by putting the cloth over the end of your finger and rubbing on the glass with a circular movement, using but little paint; for an ordinary sky make horizontal strokes with the rag, keeping the tint as flat as possible. If you place a piece of white paper under the glass the work will be easier, for you will appear to be painting on a white surface and the transparency of the glass will not trouble you.
Soft Clouds.
Can be made with a cloth on the end of your finger.
Foliage Effect.
Made with a sponge.
The Distant City.
Printed on Unruled Writing-paper.
If you have ever painted
Heads,
sooner or later you will long to try one with this process. A woman’s head with flowing, wind-blown hair seems especially adapted to the work. A bristle brush and the ever-useful rag will spin the hair out, and toss it about in decorative masses. For the face you will need a small pad made of soft silk, or muslin, and raw cotton—indeed, several pads will be found useful. Cut the silk into a four-inch square, place in the centre a wad of raw cotton about the size of a hickory nut, and, drawing the silk smoothly over the cotton at the bottom, bring it together at the top; wrap with thread close to the cotton and tie securely.