or preferably with asphalt, putting the color on with short strokes to imitate the roughness of the bark. Outline the fence and posts in the same way. Color the boats with either brown, green, or dark brown, outlined with black, as are the sails, which last are left entirely free from paint.
The little village at the right hand can next be painted. When the walls are visible paint them yellow brown, windows black or asphalt. The roofs can be of capucine red, with one or two of brown green, all of them being outlined with black. Now paint the grass on with different shades of green, using grass green as the predominant tint, modifying it with mixing yellow, or using brown green where it may seem needed. Paint the grass with short, quick strokes. A little practice on another piece of china, grounded like your plaque with yellow brown will soon give you the requisite touch. The birds are painted in ivory black directly on the color of the sky. When you have the plate fired, have a narrow gilt rim put around it.
While many who attempt china decoration, chiefly confine themselves to flower painting, the simplest and in many respects, most appropriate style of decoration, yet there are those who aim higher, and wish to excel in landscape or in figure painting.
A few general hints as to means employed may be useful to those who wish to try a more complicated picture. Ivory yellow and carnation red in combination with the tints given above, may be used for sunset or sunrise skies.
When a purplish tint is wished for the distance, use deep rich blue green and carmine. Apple green modified with black green or brown green, can be used for the nearer parts. The color for skies should be laid on delicately. Use short broad touches in painting foliage. Study always the character of the tree and adapt your
