ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 195, 13 May 1924, Page 3

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

ANNUAL EXHIBITION NOTES ON THE SKETCHES (By '‘The Lay Figure.”) 11. I preferred Miss Ardnt’s (Mrs. Manoy’s) black and while work, which is hung at the bottom wall, to her paintings. There is a distinctive quality in ill's black and white work which will repay attention. Mr. King’s panel of pictures will no doubt attract considerable interest and attention. lie paints with a clean blush in a high key, and though his work conveys rather an impression of raw colour, yet it undoubtedly shows correct observation and a careful recording thereof. Mr. King has evidently’ been strongly impressed by the effect of the decoative coastal kanaka trees with their twisted trunks and masses of dark green foliage. This makes a strong note against the sky, and ho has most cour agcously and successfully attempted problems of light that most artists would have passed by as unpalatable. This ie notable in “Mid-afternoon, Waikanae,” whilst "Twisted Trees” and "Seaside Grove” deal with kindred subjects. The best of this artist’s efforts, however, I think, is that entitled "Kanakas,” in which there is a fine sense of aerial perspective. A little grey picture, entitled "The Sun Prevails,” is quiet and taking m its general effect. Mr. A. Nicol is par excellence a colourist, and the group of sketches exhibited by him is suffused with colour, rich and yet delicate. I am glad to note the absence of a fault that used to be rather prevalent in this artist’s work, viz., the sacrifice of tonal perspective to mere colour effect. "Serenity” and "Road through Dunes” will undoubtedly attract much admiration, whilst his seascape, "Cloud Shadows,” has a sparkling quality of life and colour. In his "Summer, Cumulus,” the title shows that the interest is directed to the sky, to which the landscape is, however, not sufficiently subordinated, with a consequent detachment of interest. If wo might utter a word of warning to an artist of repute, we would counsel him to beware of any tendency to a trite, oversweetened effect, suggestive of an illustration, &ay, from “Art in Australia, tho cloying saccharinity' of which tends to monotony. These remarks apply equally to more than on® of our artists who have reached or are nearing the top of the tree. Mere cleverness and slickness are not pardonable in a, work if they dominate the picture. Finish and completeness undoubtedly are desiderata but they should not be obtrusive. No artist should become merely a professional picture maker. This accusation at present cannot be levelled at our New Zealand artists, and there is an austerity in the character of the New Zealand landscape and in tho New Zealander himself that should provide a sufficient safeguard against any such danger. , A ei & )s ,, a P.l p “ sin Sl colour feeling in Mrs. Blunt s little panel of water colours, and the same remarks apply to Mrs. HewitPs, which are freely and broadly handled, and yet sacrifice little in delicacy and finish. rr A ' .litt, 1 . 0 landscape, "Whitford from Ho wick, by — Snelling, is a telling depiction, and would be more so if the relationship between the foreground and distance had been more carefully’ observed and understood.

Mr. W. Rush’s "Romance,” a water colour in which body colour appears to be used to a great extent, conveys that fine romantic feeling, as of quiet expectancy, so often felt at twilight or dusk. Another sketch of the same artist. "Tfave'ock North,” hung on the top line in the middle of the side wall, is excellently drawn. A little bowl of anemones, by M’iss Ethel Grady, is fresh and pleasing in colour.

Miss D. Richmond displays a panel of sketches around a centre design of flowers. Miss Richmond’s works arc pure sketches, notes, in fact, of some charming effects and. striking compositions. One. to the right of tho centre of a lake scene in the Grey, is quite complete enough without any further finish, whilst preserving Ilio freedom and freshness of the sketch.

There is a pleasant colour scheme ip Dr. Fell’s “Pakaraka,” which tho two sketches of Mr. Joseph Ellis, though almost monochromatic in to’ne, show faithful portrayal of his subjects. A nice sense of drawing pervades Mr. Palethorpe’s work, which, though sometimes slight in its execution, is dignified , and decorative. Special attention is directed to “A Country Road.” “The Two Trees, . “Lengthening Shadow," and “The railway cutting,” in which there is a feeling of more solidity in the ground than in some of the others. Air. Tonibcs’s work shows feeling and delicacy, combined with dignity, but we must confess it is too slight and en attempt to have set down tho impression in a more vigorous manner with stronger tones would have been more satisfying. Mr. Hipwell’s "Sunshine and Shadow” is a good attempt, and "In the Surf" hos life nnd pleasant feeling. Miss Chapple’s "Evening Akaroa” is a quiet, well-drawn and coloured work, and her other sketches and black and white work repay inspection.. Mr. Heginhothain is an assiduous and prolific painter, and shirks no pains in tackling complicated subjects. His "Gasworks at Miramar” is a good, strong try whilst n familiar bend in the Hutt River at Silverstream is painted in a harmonious and restrained manner. There is also some distinct merit in his painting of Bowen Street. Air. Len Watkins is another assiduous artist, whose studies of harbour shipping remind one of Mr. AVe’-ch’s early work on the same subject. Ho exhibits one of the many studies of Arictoria College, a by no means unsuccessful. attempt' at a not altogether pictorial subject. We are pleased to see Air. W. B. Montgomery exhibiting. He has been an enthusiastic amateur for many, years, but his modesty has resulted in our not seeing his work,, some of which is very sincere and meritorious. The study of the Silverstream Hills, entitled “Sunshine and Shadow.” shows a correct ol>servation faithfully recorded, but we think his two host efforts are those entit'ed “Otira Gorge” and "From the Riverbed.” One of the tests of a picture is its carrying power, and both these carry remarkably well. Another test is to make a telescope of the hands and so concentrate on the picture by shutting out the surroundings, and when this is done it will be seen that there is a lot of atmosphere in these two works, and. they, to use an artistic colloqualism, “hang well together.” In other words, the eye rests evenly on the picture without being districted and roaming from one incident or detail to another.

Mrs. Prince’s landscape work shows consistent progress. Iler "Rocky Road” has quite a glow of summer warmth, and her other work possesses unity with th- resultant satisfactory feeling. There is a somewhat artificial feeling in some of Air. McCracken's work. c.g.. “A Road in Fife,” but “Tho Old Kirk” stands well out against the sky. and “Morning, St. Aforran’s” has a feeling ot the freshness of enrlv morning. T do not care for Air. AieCormack's mottled pastels. T much prefer his wnler colour. “Lyall Bay.” Dr. Carberry has evidently been influenced by a well-known artist.. of some repute in’ his treatment of "The Old Bridge,” which is very pleasing work. Styles and mannerisms, however, that are so easily acquired are generally found to be of little real or fundamental value. “Palmer Head,” in Dr. Carberry’s own method of interpretation, is a meritorious black and white, as is also the case with Air. Tonliss.

Miss Alaudesly exhibits some quiet and plea‘ant work, and I noted sketches which pleased me by Mrs. SawtelL one on the screen. “Study of Brick Kiln,” being a telling effort. Of Afr. Hay Campbell's I noticed two freely-drawn and pleasant little water colour sketches and some correct and dignified painting.

Miss Tyler is. I think, a new exhibitor, whose work chows promise, not-

ablv “Makuri Bridge” and "Makuri Valley.” Mr. Higa’s work shows a slight departure into somewhat crude colour, which, however, is not noticeable in "Bridge Karapoti Valley/’ "Misty Hil'.s, Silverstream,” and the "Karapoti Valley.” Mr. Beswick shows several strong, but somewhat rawly-coloured, works. In Miss Dobie’s "In tho Studio” there is a fine sense of space and atmosphere, with a natural and well-painted figure. I would rather have this picture than any other on that wall. /Lake Ngakeketo” has a pleasant feeling of light in it. . , Miss Kratt is somewhat strong in her blues, but otherwise shows some taking little sketches. Some well-drawn studies of boats are exhibited by R. Little, c.g., "High and Dry." Miss Scales is a little disappointing this year though there is the usual nice atmospheric feeling in "Autumn." Miss Hadfield exhibits a freely painted and life-like still life of a bowl of daisies. Mrs. Kelly, in "The Mob Cap, shows her usual 'delicacy of observation and sense of the picturesque. Of Miss Betty’s Rhincl’s work I prefer her landscape to her figure work. “Silverstream” is a pleasant htt.e sketch. , , , Miss Fatinv Richardson shows some well-painted studies of coloured mushrooms and beetles. , , There were several other artists work which here and there I noticed, but to which space does not permit me to refer On the whole. <m .looking back to previous sketch exhibitions. I think that progress is being well mantained.