There are many things of which the beginner in china painting should be
reminded. It is most essential that he has clean tools and well mixed
colors before attempting any work. To be sure poorly ground colors are
more quickly and more easily prepared, but nothing but the very poorest
results can be obtained from such haste.
After placing a small quantity of powder color on a clean slab and
enough mixing medium to make a thick paste, blend the two together with
a small palette knife, working with a rotary motion. See well to it
that no particles are left. When blending, keep the palette knife as
flat as possible, as there is danger of breaking it if bent too much.
Mix well until the color is a smooth paste. It will be found well to
put a small amount of the mixing medium in a small dish and use from
that, rather than pouring it from bottle.
When thoroughly mixed, put the color on one side of the palette. Blend
another color and place next to the other one on the palette. Proceed
in this way until all the tints wanted are prepared. It will be found
that some colors take longer than others to grind, owing to their stony
nature. In this case a little patience is necessary for best results.
Have a clean cup of turpentine and a small dish with a few drops of
light working medium at hand. Use a clean, square brush. Take the color
desired, rub down on the palette so as to have all of the brush moist
with it, and apply to the china, of course it is understood that before
beginning the work, the design has been carefully drawn on the china,
either with a wax pencil or India ink and pen. This drawing will
disappear in firing.
If the design is carefully drawn on the china, it will assist the
decorator in easily placing the tints where they belong.
Wash your brush in turpentine, when changing colors, and be sure to
press the turpentine out with a cloth before dipping the brush into
another color.
Care should be taken to see that all colors are applied evenly, always
using the brush flat.
Never hesitate to erase the design and repaint the china, in case it is
not entirely satisfactory. This may seem a little discouraging but the
result will reward one for the additional labor.
It is very necessary to clean all brushes and palettes used, when
through working. Brushes become hard when colors are allowed to dry in
them.
Throughout this work we devote special chapters to the various features
of china painting such as lining, mixing of colors, etc., and with this
lesson we feel that the beginner has a fair start; she will soon learn
what the different combinations of colors will produce. For instance,
blue and purple or blue and ruby make violet. Blue and yellow make a
green, green and a little black make gray, reds mixed with black make
brown. Do not mix lustre colors as results will not be satisfactory.
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