Page:The Art of Modeling Flowers in Wax.djvu/25

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The buds are exceedingly beautiful of the Tea Rose. This is perhaps the most difficult of all flowers to imitate, as great taste is required in the arrangement of the petals. French people excel all the world in making artificial Roses, because this element of taste is national. I never knew a person destitute of it make a good imitation of a Rose. They generally succeed better in such flowers as the Dahlia, Camellias, Stephanotas, and other regularly formed flowers.

In coloring, do not make too frequent use of the petroleum colors, such as solferino and magenta, they are so vivid that they are apt to destroy the delicate tint of the other colors. Occasionally they look well for small flowers, such as Rose-buds, Fuchsias, etc.

In modeling fine flowers like the Mignonnette, Heliotrope, and Laurestinas, great care should be taken to cut the petals and stamens very finely; neatness is one of the most requisite qualifications to insure a correct representation of the smaller flowers.

Having given, as clearly as I can, general rules for coloring, curling, and arrangement of all flowers I will now proceed to give directions for twenty of the most admired flowers, as well as those containing the best rules for perfecting the pupil in any flower they may desire to copy. Of course a good