Plate 124:  Adding a souvenir mug to the collection, Part 10: preparing to apply colors to the lion and the unicorn
(This plate added SEP 2004)

The Lion Rampant Guardant and the Unicorn Rampant, known as heraldic supporters, which the Collector copied from the original decorations on the Silver Jubilee mug, now need to be colored. After coloring, the two supporters will become part of the new presentation box for the mug. The Collector's copies will be painted in the same colors as the supporters on the mug. The tools and materials which will be used for coloring the supporters are shown in the photo. These tools and materials are fully described in the annotated photograph below. --more--

In the accompanying photo, we see the Collector's final drawings of the two supporters. These small drawings were made on 3-inch by 5-inch blank white index cards (see Plate 121), which are propped up in the background (exhibits 1 and 2). Attached to the brown containerboard (exhibit 3) with transparent tape, in preparation for coloring with watercolor paint, is a full-size photocopy of the two original drawings (exhibit 4). It is important to note that any color work must be done on photocopies of the original 3-by-5 inch drawings. The original drawings must never be colored, or they might become unsuitable for future photocopying. The original artwork for photocopies must be as clean and crisp as possible. When an original ink drawing is tinted with watercolor paint, it might become blurred and smudged, rendering it unfit for future photocopying. The watercolor paints which will be used to color the supporters are contained in two small plastic boxes with snap-closing hinged lids exhibits 5 and 6). These inexpensive little boxes are known as "schoolboxes", and are sold in school-supply departments of discount stores, especially at the beginning of the school year. Box 5 contains small tubes of watercolor paint (5 ml size), while box 6 contains mostly the larger 8 ml size. There are three different brands of watercolor paint in these boxes: Winsor & Newton, Cotman (a brand made by Winsor & Newton), and Grumbacher. These brands, which are sold in high-quality art stores, are, unfortunately, relatively expensive. Nevertheless, the Collector, who is known to be parsimonious, always purchases the best brands of watercolor paint for his color work. Through the years, the Collector has repeatedly learned the sad lesson that inferior paint will assuredly ruin a coloring project. Various types of mixing trays for watercolor painting are sold in art and craft stores. The circular tray shown above (exhibit 7) is equipped with molded cups for holding the pigments that are squeezed from the tubes, and a shallow depressed mixing area in the center. Although the Collector is resigned to purchasing the better brands of watercolor paint, he does not spend a great deal of money on brushes. He feels that the moderately-priced brushes sold in craft departments are adequate for his level of artistic skill (exhibit 8). Finally, we require a big, uncolored transparent water jar with a tight-fitting lid (exhibit 9) for rinsing our brushes. Why, exactly, do we need a big uncolored transparent jar with a tight lid? First, the jar should be big, so that rinsing and refilling need not be done frequently. Second, the jar should be uncolored and transparent, so that we can clearly see when it is time to rinse and refill with clean water. Finally, if the project is left unattended for any reason, the water jar should first be tightly lidded. Then, in the event the unattended jar is tipped over by household pets or other agents of damage, destruction and waste, the work in progress will not be flooded with water. Go to top of page