Applied art : drawing, painting, design and handicraft

Foreword

Art, when combined with life's environment, becomes a growing human benefit. Utility may become attached to art without subtracting from the beauty of art. Every handicraft or manufactured object may become an article of beauty, when art is added, and still retain its utility.

Drawing, painting, design, color, modeling, and handicraft are each an important element in art. To know^something or much of each will help that much toward better understanding of the whole. Each is an important link in the study of art, and the true artist acknowledges its importance.

Something of these elements, therefore, has been presented in the following pages. Each element is presented separate and interwoven, that the reader may recognize art as a unifying cord which weaves all the products of mankind into a pattern of beauty.

The majority of the pages are illustrations. Pictures tell more than can be explained in many pages. Only enough reading matter has been included to unify the illustrations. For the beginner, though he be. of mature years, the first chapters contain important foundations. Each succeeding chapter presents progressive suggestions for the teacher and the student, and guidance for the parent desiring an interesting form of vocational art study for the young artist.

The purpose of the book is not that the pupil copy and repeat or adhere to its pages rigidly. It is hoped that they will stimulate interest and create a desire to do original work. Each reader and student should adopt that part and begin at that point which his personal training requires. Originality and personal inventiveness are important factors in the progress of art study, and should be encouraged.

The book includes the fruit of many years' experience in both teaching and professional practice. In it are given those problems found to yield the greatest practical response in the briefest period.

Many of the illustrations are by students and fellow artists who have liberally given of their work. To these I express my appreciation. May the readers, young and old, learn the beauty of nature, learn to picture her messages, and to add harmonies from her storehouse of line, form, pattern, and color, that will beautify their everyday living. To these will come the richness of enthusiasm.

Pedro J. Lemos.