KIRKWOOD'S PAINTINGS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2555, 1 September 1915, Page 3

KIRKWOOD'S PAINTINGS

■ SOME CLEVER BRUSH-WORK; - ■: ; Exhibited ,at Tingey's, in Manners Street, .'are 1 af! .dozen canvases from the: clever brush of Mr. H. W. Kirkwood,, of. iWaiigariui, authority, to. raffle : which; lias been, given by the Minister of Internal Affairs, 25. per cent; of tho.'total proceeds,being, for the fund for wounded soldiers".' ,' Mr. Kirlovood has been painting. .how' for; many.- years, hut his .facility" in.the painting of New "Zealand scenery' is as bright as ever it was, as the paintings; now: on'vi.ew testify.' Added to 'a filie breadtli of style,; there is a finish ■ and cleanliness about Mr. .Kirk.wood's. • whichalways -tftynimands' attention -and admiration. Ho has a.nico taste for colour, and each of his: studies is nicely-balanced—he knows a' picture 1 ; subject . when , he; sees it, and whilst lie may idealise a little, who will say\'that ■ such : is; hot the ; artist 1 s - prerogative? .Tho,-first .prize is a large, canvas. depicting..the Matakitaki, -in the Nelson, district,-: a brawling stream alive with'i'jhotion,"': dashihg ,':;hetweeh v-ferny. bank's,' over, boulders, with,;' a. snowcapped mountain, 'majestically ■ nioiiopolising the. background. The-'contrast be-, .tween^the^calmglistening- mantle • of. snoiv that drapes the flanks of. the moun- 1 ■tain "and tho brilliant' flashes of sunshot, colours that play on bank and ■stream is distinctly good. 'A new and impressive; view. l Of tho. Wahgauui River, is the . second prize, also a jvery large picture. Sombre .tones-are used to portray the sliadowland through; which ■the; lordly .river I wooded:;' banks 600 and 700 feet 'high! Mr.' Kirkwood - gets' his, altitudihou's'. effects ■ '.wonderfully, and; in every detail the; paintingis''native to the scene.". There, are so.mo little gems among, the: other paintings,\ notably a clean refresh-; 1 ing bit of the Maniwatu River (in Open c'ountiy), a charming evening seascape. in which a full range of, amethystine tones are. used. exclusively; and a "live' n view of a bit of tho Maitai River, Nelson-. These pictures are well worth 'seeing! Tickets.- in tlio art union: are being sold at 6d.. each.