The Art of Architectural Modelling in Paper

by T. A. Richardson

ELEVATIONS OF VILLA.
ELEVATION OF ENTRANCE.

SIDE ELEVATION.

This being completed, we have now the edifice, as it were, set out. The next matter for consideration is the thickness of the walls; that is, the requisite thickness of paper we shall require. Suppose we take, as in the plan given, the outside reveal or recess back of the window frame, at four inches and a half; this would require four sheets of paper, but as it is always better to exaggerate slightly in modelling both projections and recesses, place six or even seven sheets together; paste them together in twos, putting them as pasted under the press, and afterwards, when nearly dry, paste them the full thickness required and subject them once more to the action of the press. The most convenient size of paper to work at for an ordinary-sized model will be made by doubling a sheet of the paper as first procured into four. On the paper becoming perfectly dry, the student must carefully draw each elevation of the building the full height from the ground line to the top of the blocking, being particular that every line both perpendicular and horizontal is perfectly true and square, and marking along faintly the lines for the cornice, strings, &c., &c., that may occur. This being done and the whole drawn in, of course not drawing in the window frames but merely the outline of the square of the window, the side will present the appearance shown in the accompanying elevation, and which is merely sketched and not drawn to any scale.

A Lines for cornice.      B Lines of upper string.      C Ditto lower cornice.      D Ditto Plinth.

PLANS OF VILLA.
GROUND PLAN.
OUTLINE PLAN.

The four or more elevations having been drawn, proceed to cut out all windows, doors, and other openings cleanly and accurately. The windows and their frames must now be made and gummed at the back of the several openings; where panels occur paper of the same tint must be used, sometimes the pieces cut from the windows will form very good backing for such parts. For the window frames take some large-sized cream laid paper, and colour it to the tint you wish your frames to be. Should a representation of oak be preferred, it may be imitated successfully thus: First paint your paper yellow, gamboge and a little burnt sienna will do, and then prepare a thick colour with Chinese white and burnt sienna; when the first colour is dry lay this last-mentioned on, and before it has time to dry grain it by means of a fine comb; a small tooth comb will answer best for this purpose, and if skilfully performed a most admirable imitation will be the result. Three or four thicknesses of paper (cream laid or other white paper) must then be pasted together, with the oak-coloured one upon the top, and submitted to the action of the press.