Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/73



people who desire to beautify their homes or to make handsome and acceptable presents, are unable to spare the time required by needle work. To such, Kensington painting offers a quick and easy means of decoration. The materials required are oil paints (in tubes), a porcelain palette, red sable brushes, Nos. 4 and 6 (it is well to have several of these), spirits of turpentine, and the inevitable rag. The same care must be taken as to background, coloring, etc., as in embroidery, and the same hints should be observed as to realistic treatment. The object is decoration and not picture making.

Squeeze the colors out on the palette, mixing them to meet the requirements of your work. Do not thin them, but use as thick as possible. A little sugar of lead or megilp mixed with them will facilitate drying, and prevent the possible spreading of the oil. If the colors seem to contain too much oil, take them out on blotting paper before placing them on the palette.

Have your design distinctly outlined, but keeping the lines as light as practicable. Lay on the colors smoothly, painting from the edge of the design in, so as to have the outlines definite. Use the colors which you will need in the finished work, but the shading and blending of the tints need not be done as carefully as in ordinary painting. Let it dry for a few minutes, and then with a steel or lacquered pen scratch in the coloring so as to 69