PAINTED BACKGROUNDS.
In putting in a vignetted background with the brush, it is customary first to wash in a middle tint, then cross-hatch over this to the desired shade. To do this, first of all sponge over the part which is to re ceive the wash ; then, commencing at the top, with a brush charged with very watery colour of a tint midway between the paper and the desired shade of background, draw lines from left to right across the paper, taking care to finish softly just before it reaches the head, when the moist surface will allow it to spread softly to the head. Make the next line just below, lapping over the previous stroke about an eighth of an inch. These strokes are continued, joining each to the one above, until the bottom is reached. Now set this aside to dry. The washes should be put on with a. camel hair mop or a No. 6 brush. The wash will be inclined to run down into the dress, so that this part should not be clone until afterwards. As it gradually drains down, it should he blotted with a clean piece of white blotting paper. When dry,
the tone of the background, or clouds, is hatched in by drawing extremely fine lines very evenly front the head outwards, and crossing them at an acute angle, as in the upper portion of Fig. 461. On no account must the lines cross at anything approaching a right angle, as the effect will be hard, and the margins will not soften properly. A considerable amount. of practice will be necessary before this can be clone easily and neatly. It is essential, also, to ensure the best effect, that it should be done quickly, and with the fewest possible strokes. The student is advised to practise this on drawing paper. Draw the outline of a vase or any simple object, and proceed to shade it up by cross hatching in this manner. Cross hatching is not so much used nowadays as it once was, but is capable of giving very beautiful effects if skilfully done.