Merrifield, Mary Philadelphia: Practical Directions For Portrait Painting In Water-Colours (London, 1854)

PAPER.

13

D. Then drive a nail into the right-hand corner of sides
A and C, first drawing the calico tight towards the corner,
then one into the opposite corner of sides B and D. Do
the same on the other two sides, pinching up the cahco
at the corners, and turning it neatly over one corner,
fix it with a nail. Now halve the space between one
corner and the centre of side A, and drive in a nail at
the centre; then the opposite point of side B, and so on
until you have driven in five nails on each side, always
working from opposite points, in order to keep the cahco
straight and tight. Having done this, proceed to drive
nails in the centre of each space, and its opposite point,
until the calico is secured by a sufficient number of
nails.

Having covered the boards with cahco, or paper, next
cut the drawing-paper which is to be strained on them;
and as the paper stretches by being wetted, the drawing-
paper should be cut a little smaller than the board, for it
is not at all necessary to turn the drawing-paper over the
edges, indeed it is much better not to do so. Take care
that every piece of paper, before it is cut, is marked so as
to distinguish the right from the wrong side. Now damp
thoroughly, and roll your paper, the right side inwards,
and let it lie and soak. When damping the paper, use
the sponge lightly, in order not to abrade the surface.
To know when it is damp enough, turn up a corner;