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Color, however brilliant or charming, can never disguise bad drawing, nor will time, which may tone down and mellow too glaring or vivid coloring, lend any disguise to faults of drawing. An old Italian proverb may be freely translated: — "If time corrects painting, it does nothing for drawing. " But if you wish to begin painting, you need not necessarily wait till you are a proficient with your pencil. Good drawing may be learnt as well with the brush as in any other way; and in fact, the artist must learn to draw with his brush, that is, to produce the right effects of light and shade, true perspective, etc. Good lessons are, of course, of inestimable value, but many have done much for themselves by study and assiduous practice.

As for the outfit required, it need not necessarily be a very expensive one. If you can manage to have a room to yourself, however small, so much the better. Darken all the windows but the one at which you have your easel. A northern exposure is to be preferred, as the light is more even. If painting from nature, the lower part of the window should be darkened, in order to give the proper effects of light and shade. Your palette should be light and fit your hand comfortably. Nos. 2, 4, 6, and 9, flat red sable brushes, one flat bristle brush, and one badger blender No. 4, will be a good assortment to begin with, which can be added to as you wish. It is well, however, to have two or three No. 6 56