Watercolors
Jonathan Fisher recorded specific directions regarding the use of watercolors
Painting in water colors. The materials necessary for this art are gum, colors, hair pencil, fitch, a pallet, and pen knife. The colors in general are white, black, brown, red, yellow, blue, and green.
Directions for using the colors. Your pencil must be fast in their quill, and sharp-pointed after you have drawn them through your mouth. Before you begin, have all your colors ready before you, and a pallet for the conveniency of mixing them; a paper to lay under you hand, and to keep your work clean, as well as to try your color upon; also a large brush, called a fitch, to wipe off the dust, when your colors are dry. Lay your colors on but thinly at first, deepening and mellowing them by degrees as you see occasion. The quicker you lay them on, the evener and cleaner your drawing will appear. Take care to preserve all your colors from dust; and before you use them, wipe you shells and pallet every time with a fitch. When you have done your work, and would lay it aside, be careful to wash out your pencils in warm water.
The parson also gave detailed instructions on how to paint human faces and landscapes. This knowledge was perhaps copied directly from The Artists Assistant, originally published in London in 1760.