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SOON TAKE

Ces SES
BAIN SIRTRIRAT
CEZEZARKQ

FACTORY EXPERIENCE

AWOKE to the fact that my student days were over when

I found myself clocking in at 8 a.m. at the factory gates.

There was no allowance made for the temperamental artist.
Every one had to be there on time. The first thing to be done was
to design embroidered net curtains. Not one design for the day nor
even two, but as many as you could jolly well turn out. They wanted
hundreds of them. This was followed by designs for Applique cur-
tains, tapestry panels, petit-point panels, embroidered cushion covers,
table runners and bed spreads. Every design had to be new, effective,
full of vitality, interesting and withal simple, not forgetting the cost
of production. Thoughts had to come rapidly and one had to rely
entirely on one’s own judgment—then, too, every design had to be
a working drawing for the factory hands. Exact in measurement and
concise in detail.
The designing and weaving of rugs and carpets came as my next
experience both for hand looms and machines. Oh! the long tedious
drafting of those carpets—some having not less than sixty colours.
You may not consider this strictly artistic work, but believe me it is
thoroughly good training and will test your mettle for sticking it.
Finally there was the designing of velvets, damasks, cretonnes, cot-
ton prints and silks, which had often to be done in a dozen different
colour schemes each.
My point in writing this is to show you that you must not be afraid
of work and must work hard if you are going to succeed in the field
of commercial design. You can make it intellectual, interesting work
that will give pleasure and be a happiness to do.

v

J. W. G. MACDONALD.

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