"Select a proposed ground originally for its brightness, and renovate it , if necessary, with fresh white when first it comes into the studio, the white to be mixed with a very little amber or copal varnish. Let this last coat become of a thoroughly stone-like hardness.

Upon this surface, complete with exactness the outline of the part in hand (i.e. draw in pencil the part of the picture you are about to work on).

On the morning for the painting, with fresh white paint, spread a further coat very evenly with a palette knife over the part for the day's work of such density that the drawing should faintly show through .

Over this wet ground, the colour (transparent and semi-transparent) should be laid with light subtle brushes and the touches must be made so tenderly that the ground below shall not be worked up".