Page:The practice of water-colour painting (IA cu31924014501971).pdf/87

facts into a form which is determined by suitably conventional restrictions. In his case his instinct as a decorator induces him to make his water-colours decorative transcriptions of the pattern of nature rather than exact records of her momentary aspects or her passing effects. His paintings are designs in which no superfluities of ornament are allowed to obscure the simple directness of the composition scheme, and in which, equally, no imitative trivialities are allowed to spoil the dignity of a broad and well-considered impression.

When he is commencing a a water-colour painting he makes a preliminary drawing in pencil by which he defines upon his paper the main forms of his subject. If this subject is an indefinite one, with only broad, simple masses, the drawing is quite slight, but if he is handling a more detailed motive – an architectural composition, for instance – he carries his pencil work to a greater degree of elaboration and uses the lines frankly in combination with the water-colour washes. In this case he aims somewhat