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Ben Yƻsuf, Anna / The art of millinery: a complete series of practical lessons for the artiste and the amateur
(1909)
Lesson XI: Draping, pp. 166-176
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Page 166
THE ART OF MILLINERY LESSON XI DRAPING N every business, trade or profession, whatever may depend on the cleverness of the brain, the genius of the mind, in whatever manner it may find expres- sion, that is ART, and is inborn; it must be there or it cannot manifest itself; no one can teach this; we can only show ambitious students how to use the materials and tools, by means of which the beautiful ideas they hold within themselves may find expression. This is just as true of the artist-milliner as it is of the sculptor or painter, and the beautiful effects that may be obtained by "draping" a piece of material come under the class of artistic manipulation. It may be in you or it may not; only by making the effort to do something can you discover this talent. Therefore, try. Given the same size and shape of piece of velvet in the hands of a dozen persons, all working on the same shape, copying a draped model, no two will be alike, and probably not more than two will be anything like the original. Parisian milliners will take any odd cutting of velvet, silk or lace, drop it over a frame, a few light touches, and behold an arrangement of beautiful curves, graceful lines, and lights and shadows that tempt a painter. One can readily understand how difficult such a model is to copy; until it is pulled to pieces one does not suspect that it is just a remnant from a gown or mantle! It is there- fore not the material that ensures success; it is the deft fingers, guided by the artistic brain. Draped Effects Over Wire Frames Draperies must never look as if sewn; whatever stitches are necessary must be quite invisible; not only this, but there must be no draw nor pucker that could suggest stitches. 166
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