of course make each canvas a bit longer, than one plans to

use, and then clip a little off, – or one can have

frames in various lengths and heights for example

100 x 75–80 x 60–70 x 55–60 x 45, etc., – even if one

had “a continuous shared length”, – one is still

dependent on the width, when one wishes to have different sizes,

as one will have to cut some off anyway. It’s a good idea incidentally to have

a specific size, that one grows accustomed to – Weren-

skiold once said, – one immediately looks for a new motif in

the format one knows by heart. One can also have

2 sizes for example 100 x 75 and 75 x 50, – the first for

(large) “pictures” – the second for “sketches”, – one can use

the same ^{type of} canvas ^width for both formats – “the sketch canvases” will then have

a rather lengthy format, which can be cut from as desired, –

it might also be convenient on a sketch to have a little along

the edge “to make notes” ^on(in other words a kind of “margin”), – I always did that

during my early painting years, and I think it would have benefitted me, had

I continued with it. A somewhat simpler primer, – well I

have experimented with that, – one can in any case manage with 2

coats instead of 4, – but the canvas must then be worked more vigorously.

To return to “the length”, I believe that by

fashioning a long very strong and expressly adapted frame, [one] might

prime lengths of 6 alen (approx. 4 m.) – but what would one actually

gain by that? – With such “lengths” one almost always ends up

with a useless remnant of 20–30 cm. extra when

one is finished, – and that is a waste. Well it’s time I

stopped – “to be continued in the next issue”. Say hello to your wife and your children

Hope to hear from you soon, if You are [both] very dissatisfied

with the picture, – you can paint over the worst yourself. Greetings from everyone here.

Your Astrup

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