No. 14 Olive, or Light Green, Spanish
One of the most simple and easy patterns is called Olive Spanish, with red and blue veins. The veins are mixed with gall and water, as in the previous kinds of marbling, till they are brought to the proper consistence; and, as it is not possible to state any given measure for proportioning the gall and water exactly, some gall being stronger than other, that must be determined by observing the effect produced in the colours as they are tried on the solution. But each successive colour requires more gall than the one which preceded it, and the principal or body-colour requires to be both thicker in itself and stronger in gall than any of the others. This rule is almost without an exception.
Having, therefore, mixed and prepared the colours,—having the preparation of gum and flea-seed in the trough,—proceed to throw on, first the red, then the blue, and lastly, with a large brush full of colour, the olive; beginning at the left-hand corner of the trough, farthest from you, and working down and up closely all over, taking care not to go twice over the same place, or you will produce rings by the falling of one spot upon another, which is considered objectionable. It cannot, however, be entirely avoided. Now take up the paper by the two opposite corners, and, holding it as nearly upright as possible, yet with a degree of ease and looseness only to be attained by practice, let the corner in the right hand gently touch the colour on the trough, while, at the same time, you shake or move it to and fro by a regular motion, at the same time, with the left hand, letting the sheet regularly and gradually descend till it lies flat upon the surface of the solution. Practice will be required before the stripes or shades will be produced with certainty and regularity. We will next take a pattern with three veins.