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It becomes me now to give some necessary instructions on the method
OF HOLDING THE PENCIL,
in order to use it with the greatest freedom, for on that success chiefly
depends. The best method of acquiring or learning this lesson is to get a
thin piece of mahogany for a rest; about twenty-four inches long, three inches
wide, and half an inch thick, with a bit of wood fixed at each end, about
two inches high. Let the corners be rounded, to prevent uneasiness by pressure;
rest the hand, and part of the arm upon this, and hold your pencil between
your thumb and fore finger; bend the middle finger under a little, so that
the pencil may lay along the inside of the middle finger nail; and then bend
the third and little fingers quite under, for by that means you will have
the most freedom. Put your paper under the rest, or mahogany board, and rest
the under side of your hand upon the rest board, and draw a stroke; in doing
which, observe to move the middle joints of your two fingers and thumb: this
will require some practice, but it is very necessary to attend to; and the
advantage of practising upon the rest is, that you will hold your pencil
at a much greater distance, than if you did not; which you will find of infinite
advantage when you come to paint flowers.
The next part of the art I wish to recommend to the student, as a further
foundation, and which is absolutely necessary to be well acquainted with
before any attempts are made to paint a flower, is, to learn to mix the various
tints that I have here given: