8 OBSERVATIONS ON THE
From what has been already said it is obvious, that drawing, considered only as
such, is nothing more than a habit, by which the hand, being accustomed to follow
the traces of the eye, conveys upon paper or other materials the similitude of objects,
and can only be obtained by unwearied application and great attention.
By practice the hand acquires a facility which gives freedom, and this freedom
must constantly be corrected by judgment in placing every particular part in the
object to be delineated in its proper order : it must be observed, that judgment is not
here meant to be that exertion of the understanding which would be requisite to com-
pose an historical picture, or a well-imagined landscape, but relates only to proportion,
or an accurate consideration of the distance of one feature, limb, or part from ano-
ther ; it being no unusual thing for such as draw very well practically, to be utterly in-
capable of composing or inventing, which ought to be with more propriety ascrib-
ed to genius.
The Manual Part of Designing consists in two Operations,
OUTLINE AND RELIEF.
The first of these, with regard to human figures, comprehends anatomy and pro-
portion.
The second, light and shadow j and these are produced by hatching with chalks,
pen and ink, and black lead, or washing with Indian ink, bistre, &c.
Proportion and relief are also absolutely necessary in other parts of design, as
landscape, ornaments, Sfc.
The necessary materials for designing are charcoal, red, black, and white chalk,
Indian ink, bistre, black lead pencils, crow quill pens, and camel-hair pencils.
The charcoal should be chosen with a fine grain, such as will mark freely,
and may be discharged easily by brushing it either with a feather or silk hand-
kerchief ; it is of great use in sketching or marking out the general idea of the figure
or part to be designed; and the strokes being easily effaced, the drawing may, by
degrees, be brought to its due proportion, and be afterwards more correctly finished
with either of the chalks.
It has been already said of what importance the geometrical figures in Plate I.
are to the art of designing: let them therefore be carefully studied and frequently
drawn, even while the student thinks himself qualified to proceed further; for as
confinement to dry studies often creates disgust, it is rather recommended to the
learner to blend the practice of them with the most easy examples in the other
plates.
Let not the student be deterred from proceeding by the appearance of difficulties;
From what has been already said it is obvious, that drawing, considered only as
such, is nothing more than a habit, by which the hand, being accustomed to follow
the traces of the eye, conveys upon paper or other materials the similitude of objects,
and can only be obtained by unwearied application and great attention.
By practice the hand acquires a facility which gives freedom, and this freedom
must constantly be corrected by judgment in placing every particular part in the
object to be delineated in its proper order : it must be observed, that judgment is not
here meant to be that exertion of the understanding which would be requisite to com-
pose an historical picture, or a well-imagined landscape, but relates only to proportion,
or an accurate consideration of the distance of one feature, limb, or part from ano-
ther ; it being no unusual thing for such as draw very well practically, to be utterly in-
capable of composing or inventing, which ought to be with more propriety ascrib-
ed to genius.
The Manual Part of Designing consists in two Operations,
OUTLINE AND RELIEF.
The first of these, with regard to human figures, comprehends anatomy and pro-
portion.
The second, light and shadow j and these are produced by hatching with chalks,
pen and ink, and black lead, or washing with Indian ink, bistre, &c.
Proportion and relief are also absolutely necessary in other parts of design, as
landscape, ornaments, Sfc.
The necessary materials for designing are charcoal, red, black, and white chalk,
Indian ink, bistre, black lead pencils, crow quill pens, and camel-hair pencils.
The charcoal should be chosen with a fine grain, such as will mark freely,
and may be discharged easily by brushing it either with a feather or silk hand-
kerchief ; it is of great use in sketching or marking out the general idea of the figure
or part to be designed; and the strokes being easily effaced, the drawing may, by
degrees, be brought to its due proportion, and be afterwards more correctly finished
with either of the chalks.
It has been already said of what importance the geometrical figures in Plate I.
are to the art of designing: let them therefore be carefully studied and frequently
drawn, even while the student thinks himself qualified to proceed further; for as
confinement to dry studies often creates disgust, it is rather recommended to the
learner to blend the practice of them with the most easy examples in the other
plates.
Let not the student be deterred from proceeding by the appearance of difficulties;