The Victorians loved to paint things. Anything. Everything! Walls, furniture, fans, fabrics, knick-knacks - if it didn't move or run away, there was probably a "how-to" article on how to paint it. These articles often provided lengthy details about choosing colors, mixing paints, and how to obtain certain types of paints and colors - all of which will be of little use to today's artist. The patterns and designs provided by these Victorian artists, however, are timeless, and as inspiring today as they must have been more than 100 years ago.

Indian Painting in Imitation of Ebony and Ivory, by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875)

The basic approach here is to use India ink to create a black background on a light-colored wood, after which the piece is varnished or lacquered so that the resulting white pattern looks like an inlay. ("Indian" here refers to Indian ink.)

Spray Work, or Spatter Work, by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875)

This is an interesting technique using a fine spatter of ink or paint over a layer of leaves, after which the leaves are removed to leave the paint design around them. It can be applied to nearly any surface.

The Fans of Past and Present, by Dora de Blaquière (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

A look at fans from around the world, including tips on how to paint fans.

Fans, and How to Decorate Them (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

Smoke Pictures, by Edward Baker (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

The forerunner of today's scrape-away pictures -- one begins by coating a card with candle smoke, then, with a needle, etching away a design.

How to Decorate Fans (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

Bronze Painting, by Blanche C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1886)

Artistic Knick Knacks (Girl's Own Paper, 1887)

Lovely patterns for a painted bellows, milking stool and Toad-Stool Table.

How to Paint Miniatures on Ivory (Girl's Own Paper, 1888)

Vitrelac, by Gleeson White (Girl's Own Paper, 1888)

A technique for imitating Japanese lacquer-work, using glass, black varnish, and silver and gold foils.

Cloisonne Enamel, by Blanche C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

How I Painted a Tambourine (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

Burnt Wood Drawing, by Ernest Jessop (Girl's Own Paper, 1899)