I found out, later, that the man had
been as far as Brighton beach; but he knew all about Art, confound him.
been as far as Brighton beach; but he knew all about Art, confound him.
Kipling - Poems
The mark of muddy feet on the dais
showed that a military model had just gone away. The watery autumn
sunlight was falling, and shadows sat in the corners of the studio.
"Yes," said Dick, deliberately, "I like the power; I like the fun; I
like the fuss; and above all I like the money. I almost like the
people who make the fuss and pay the money. Almost. But they're a queer
gang,--an amazingly queer gang! "
"They have been good enough to you, at any rate. That tin-pot exhibition
of your sketches must have paid. Did you see that the papers called it
the 'Wild Work Show'? "
"Never mind. I sold every shred of canvas I wanted to; and, on my word,
I believe it was because they believed I was a self-taught flagstone
artist. I should have got better prices if I worked my things on wool or
scratched them on camel-bone instead of using mere black and white and
colour. Verily, they are a queer gang, these people. Limited isn't the
word to describe 'em. I met a fellow the other day who told me
that it was impossible that shadows on white sand should be
blue,--ultramarine,--as they are.
I found out, later, that the man had
been as far as Brighton beach; but he knew all about Art, confound him.
He gave me a lecture on it, and recommended me to go to school to learn
technique. I wonder what old Kami would have said to that. "
"When were you under Kami, man of extraordinary beginnings? "
"I studied with him for two years in Paris. He taught by personal
magnetism. All he ever said was, 'Continuez, mes enfants,' and you had
to make the best you could of that. He had a divine touch, and he knew
something about colour. Kami used to dream colour; I swear he could
never have seen the genuine article; but he evolved it; and it was
good. "
"Recollect some of those views in the Soudan? " said Torpenhow, with a
provoking drawl.
Dick squirmed in his place. "Don't! It makes me want to get out there
again. What colour that was! Opal and umber and amber and claret and
brick-red and sulphur--cockatoo-crest-sulphur--against brown, with a
nigger-black rock sticking up in the middle of it all, and a decorative
frieze of camels festooning in front of a pure pale turquoise sky.
showed that a military model had just gone away. The watery autumn
sunlight was falling, and shadows sat in the corners of the studio.
"Yes," said Dick, deliberately, "I like the power; I like the fun; I
like the fuss; and above all I like the money. I almost like the
people who make the fuss and pay the money. Almost. But they're a queer
gang,--an amazingly queer gang! "
"They have been good enough to you, at any rate. That tin-pot exhibition
of your sketches must have paid. Did you see that the papers called it
the 'Wild Work Show'? "
"Never mind. I sold every shred of canvas I wanted to; and, on my word,
I believe it was because they believed I was a self-taught flagstone
artist. I should have got better prices if I worked my things on wool or
scratched them on camel-bone instead of using mere black and white and
colour. Verily, they are a queer gang, these people. Limited isn't the
word to describe 'em. I met a fellow the other day who told me
that it was impossible that shadows on white sand should be
blue,--ultramarine,--as they are.
I found out, later, that the man had
been as far as Brighton beach; but he knew all about Art, confound him.
He gave me a lecture on it, and recommended me to go to school to learn
technique. I wonder what old Kami would have said to that. "
"When were you under Kami, man of extraordinary beginnings? "
"I studied with him for two years in Paris. He taught by personal
magnetism. All he ever said was, 'Continuez, mes enfants,' and you had
to make the best you could of that. He had a divine touch, and he knew
something about colour. Kami used to dream colour; I swear he could
never have seen the genuine article; but he evolved it; and it was
good. "
"Recollect some of those views in the Soudan? " said Torpenhow, with a
provoking drawl.
Dick squirmed in his place. "Don't! It makes me want to get out there
again. What colour that was! Opal and umber and amber and claret and
brick-red and sulphur--cockatoo-crest-sulphur--against brown, with a
nigger-black rock sticking up in the middle of it all, and a decorative
frieze of camels festooning in front of a pure pale turquoise sky.
