_Method of painting with and fixing of the_ CRAYONS.
The method of painting with and fixing of the crayons comes not only
within the sense of encaustic, but is the very self-same thing. The
whole proceeding is founded upon the foregoing principle; the same
materials and agent are required.--The only difference between painting
in encaustic with the pencil, and painting in encaustic with crayons,
consists in employing the colours; in the former--you paint with
colours tempered with water; in the latter--you employ, and paint with
the same colours dry; the effect and solidity will be equal and the
same in both.--
* * * * *
The encomiums I bestowed upon the penciling system, are applicable
to that of the crayons; I shall say nothing more; experience will
be the best panegyrist. I am afraid crayons, as seemingly the less
troublesome, will carry the golden apple; I will not anticipate the
decision of the public.--I shall give the hint, and my fellow artists
may make use of it as they please.--
* * * * *
As the system of encaustic for the pencil is the parent of that for
the crayons, and as both may be happily blended and jointly practised
to good purpose, I shall, to avoid tiresomely repeating the same
thing over again, refer the reader to the former process whenever
similarities of proceeding occur; they, besides commenting each other,
will open to the more timorous artist a freer field of action. As I did
in the former, so shall I in this, give that method of proceeding,
which by experience I found to be the best.
Though this system did not enter in the original plan of publication
with the other, and I intended to withold it from the public a little
longer, to see what reception the former should meet with; yet as it
got vent by shewing it to few friends, and a gentleman offering me (in
his opinion) a considerable reward to dispose of the secret in his
favour only, I, to prevent some modern PLINY’s casting more direct
reflexions upon me, without my having the skill of Apelles to uphold my
reputation, at least thought proper to give them to the public both at
once. To make discoveries that may be of infinite advantage to arts,
subservient to private avarice, is the foible of a weak, jealous, and
ill-natured mind.--Here follows the process; and first the preparation
of the cloth.