The Art of Painting.

COMPOUNDING COLOURS.—White is considered as not only a principal colour in painting, but the base or foundation of all light coloured paints. White lead is the principal white in use, though a more delicate white called flake white, is used in ornamental work. Several common colours, known as lead-colour, slate-colour, &c., are produced by mixing lamp-black with white-lead in different proportions. A small quantity of Prussian blue, finely ground and added to white lead, constitutes the common sky-blue. Minute quantities of blue and yellow added to white, produce the delicate pearl-colour, so much in vogue for parlours and halls. Straw colour is produced by the addition of a little chrome yellow to white: and pea green by the addition of Paris green. A beautiful light purple, or peach-blossom colour is produced, by adding to white lead, small quantities of ultramarine blue, and drop lake. It is needless to specify the exact proportions of the ingredients in these compounds; the only rule being to add the colouring ingredients in minute quantities, till the required colour is produced. The most common colour for floors, is composed of white lead and yellow ochre, in about equal quantities by weight, with the addition of one ounce of red lead to each pound of the mixture. In painting carriages or ships, a great variety of compound colours are used, a few of which may be here noticed. The best black is composed of lamp-black and Prussian blue. A dark green consists of a mixture of chrome green and Prussian blue. A brilliant plumb colour is produced by a mixture of lamp-black and vermilion. Olive colour is produced by mixing lamp-black and chrome yellow. A brilliant orange colour is produced by mixing chrome yellow and orange lead—(a pigment similar to red lead, but more refined.) A stone brown is composed of lamp-black, yellow ochre and Venetian red, equal parts: the addition of white to this compound reduces this colour to a drab, or light stone colour. A mixture of lamp-black with venetian red, constitutes the chocolate colour. A bright rose colour, which is much used in ornamenting, is composed of white lead and drop-lake. As a general rule, the colours should be mixed with oil and ground separately, before being compounded, or mixed together; but should not be diluted any more than is required for grinding, until the colour is perfected. We shall proceed with some instruction in carriage painting in our next number.