How to paint photographs in water colors and in oil : how to work in crayon, make the chromo-photograph, retouch negatives and instructions in ceramic painting : practical hand-book designed for the use of students and photographers, containing directions for brush-work in all kinds of photo-portraiture

Front matter

SIXTH EDITION

HOW TO PAINT

PHOTOGRAPHS

Preface

In transferring the publication of another edition of my book from Philadelphia to New York, I do so with the confident expectation that I am accepting a rare opportunity for extending, it to a larger field of usefulness.

The dissemination of previous editions having been confined more especially to the photographic sphere, it has been felt that the merits of the work — hitherto so freely acknowledged and endorsed by our generous fraternity — ^were yet to be known and appreciated by the book-buying public in general.

In harmony with this change of publishers, I have made numerous alterations and improvments in the book itself; sparing neither time nor labor in my endeavor to keep it in the front rank of excellence. Not a line of it has escaped careful revision ; the entire text has been re-arranged ; new topics have been inserted ; and the whole enlarged by many additional pages of useful matter.

The new chapters on Crayon-Work, Ceramic Painting, and the Chromo-Photograph, have been prepared especially in response to the demand of the times for instruction on these popular art-subjects ; and which, with the very considerable ex-

PREFACE.

V tension of the chapter on oil painting, are conspicuous features of this edition.

Having received many assurances that my former labors "were not in vain — in developing a love for the beautiful in our art, and exciting the ambitious to still further excellence — it has been my aim to leave nothing unwritten here which I thought could in anywise help the student in the attainment of increased knowledge and practical ability.

I believe that this best of all my editions will meet fully the expectation of those who await its appearance ; whilst I trust it may continue to be, as it has been, the Standard Manual for teaching ‘'How to Paint Photographs.'’

George B. Ayres.

Introduction

No book ever made a painter^ or ever will. Neither can Art be taught practically by books, but the written experience of others may lend important assistance to the student who undertakes the task of self-tuition. This is particularly true if he is gifted with such powers of perception as will enable him to understand, without any further aid, the instructions as they are given.

There are very many instances, — especially outside of the cities, — where hooks are the only available means of obtaining this particular kind of information ; and it is hoped that this little work will be found sufficient for, and meet the expectations of, the many who cannot enjoy the greater advantage of having a competent teacher.

There are photographers also in many parts of the country who have orders for painted and retouched work, but who may not have convenient opportunities for committing their pictures into the hands of regular artists. At the same time they may themselves be possessed of a degree of native genius which only needs direction and encouragement to enable them to do at least some of their brush-work. Indeed there is no good reason why many among the competent photographers who have in-

INTRODUCTION.

Vll herent talent and aptness for picture-making, should not — in addition to the operations of the camera and dark-room — ^become tolerably proficient to do some of their ordinary coloring ; and by study and practice, a considerable proportion.

“Very erroneous ideas,’' writes a distinguished painter, “are entertained regarding the capability of the mind to acquire correct perceptions of color, and to realize them in artistic effects. Too much is ascribed to genius, and too little to study and perseverance. . Both the appreciation of color and the pcmer of expressing it are doubtless attainable by education ; and under proper direction, the laws relating to harmony of color may be as readily understood and practiced as those relating to perspective, when representing forms without color, the pursuit demanding nothing more than the general capabilities required in the study of the latter. But the student who desires to attain excellence^ must devote his time and labor with that untiring energy which a love of the art can alone excite.”

In preparing this volume, we have assumed that the majority of those for whose use and improvement it is more especially designed, have no desire to acquaint themselves with the philosophical minutiae of the art of delineating the human countenance and form, as based upon the correct standpoint of an original creation upon clean paper. The photographic image, already provided, obviates this necessity ; and hence our teachings will be found simple and practical in regard to the separate matter of Coloring, — while we leave the profounder aspects of the subject to be studied by the ambitious, from other and more comprehensive sources.

Practical photographers are not, however, the only persons for whom this book is designed. There are many others who wish

Vlll

INTRODUCTION.

to try Photographic Painting as a recreation and accomplishment, or to pursue it as a livelihood — especially women ; but the inconvenience and expense of tuition at the hands of proper instructors (to be found only in the cities), clearly proves the necessity for a standard hook as the next best means of gaining the desired knowledge.

To such it is believed this work will be really acceptable ; and our sincere hope is that it will be found sufficiently plain and practical ; comprehending all that is necessary to render this delightful study easy, and furnishing one more steppingstone to artistic and personal advancement.

Note. — We deem it not inconsistent with our plan of practical instructions to introduce the brief chapters which terminate on page 25, since a knowledge of the matters contained therein is essential to intelligent working ; but, as they may be thought rather abstruse for the beginner, a thorough study of them can be deferred until a certain degree of iwrk has been accomplished, — although they should he carefully at the outset.

I

Contents

PAGE

Accessories, General Remarks on . . . , . *99

Carpets and Table-Covers, . . , , . . 102