very thin, loses its richness, and is an appearance weak and uninviting. Any one taking up china-painting for pleasure or profit should make extensive experiments of many and various combinations of colors. A systematic series, where proportions are noted and memorandum kept for future reference, will prove of inestimable value. Misgivings and doubts will soon disappear ; and the painter will find himself working with greater confidence and boldness, knowing positively the result beforehand.
Tests should be made in duplicate, and only one fired. Then any change made in the firing is at once perceptible. Tests need only cost time. Pieces of broken china may be obtained at any store where china is sold, -- it is imperative that it should be a new piece. Those who do their own firing have an extra advantage over those who do not.. But any firer will fire theses samples free of charge.
The endeavor to impress the necessity of having a sufficient variety of colors must not lead the reader to belief in a widespread fallacy that obtained for many years, that mineral colors would not mix. That misapprehension had no foundation, and was exploded long ago.
The fact is, in any kind of painting, and with any pigment, -- and mineral colors in this respect are no exception, -- colors must be modified in
