PROMISING WORK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 209, 1 June 1931, Page 3

PROMISING WORK

N.Z. Academy of Fine Arts AUTUMN EXHIBITION Good Black-and-. White Drawings

(By

"The Lay Figure.”)

The autumn exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts was opened to the public on ■ Saturday. Some promising work by youugel - artists is worthy of special attention. The follow-' ing notes are a continuation of those published on Saturday. That promising local artist, Leonard Tingey. sends some good sketches'; perhaps his best is the view of Wellington Harbour from the Botanical Gardens. Many visitors were very favourably impressed at the private view, by 11. T. Craven’s “Riverside Farms,” there being an all-round picturesqueness about the picture which is very pleasing. \ Close by, that always welcome contributor. Mr'. Hay Campbell, of Wanganui, is represented by a well drawn Hower studv.' - “Chrysanthemums.”' iiud' a fine figure study "The River Pilot,” which has rightly attracted much admiration. The still-life study of Ina Birch must win almost unreserved admiration by the boldness and directness of its painting: a remark also due to Betty Rliind s contributions. especially her still-life studies. The water-dolours of Jean McKay rightly call, for attention: notably her "Cottage Near Kimbolton,’’. 1 , the keynote of which is - its reserved .directness. Visitors should also note her flower studies. All this artist’s work is of considerable promise.; ■'' Myrtle Lee's “Tangier Garden ’.appears to me just a little over-complicated in design, but her more important study. “The Lemon Growers,” is in every way an admirable piece of work. , Mr. J.. L. Raeburn sends a large and certainly impressive study of “The Earthquake,” with its - curious distortions of the landscape hear Napier; In the upstairs gallery Mr. Raeburn is represented by several interesting studies, of which perhaps “The Domesticated Nymph 1S the most attractive. Constance Bojton sends two attractive figure studies. In one the face-of the female model is exceptionally xyell modelled. Mrs. Prince’s work is also deserving of careful attention. . , Above Mr. Tuigey’s work in the corner is a slight'but very promising sketch of “Moonshine Valley,” by ; Jessie Evatt. This deserved a more prominent position.

. The GalleryOn the way upstairs the visitor should not fail to notice the often very, promising and, in some cases, the really artistic work in black and white, shown by some of the) contributors. It is pleasing to see that the fine' pencil Work contributed by Mr. Janies Cook, of Christchurch, ■ has- been .appreciated by the council, which has bought one of his drawings. The etching and pencil work of Mr. D’Auyergne Boxall, noticeably his “Pont N6uf” drawing ana one of his two xlvignon views, is truly artistic, alike in feeling and';crisp craftmansliipi These artists give to.the usually neglected, contributions on the stairway a certain distinction which should be remarked'by all visitors to the exhibition.- ' ■ .■ Mr. Christopher Perkins contributes ti well-drawn ana effectively-tinted figure study' which, has rightly pleased many who have not been able *to 'see eye to eye with him in his larger but rather incomprehensible wharf painting downstairs. Another contributor, in this instance always very welcome, is. Mr. Linley Richardson, who sends a'very charming child study and. a nude figure, .' The council has purchased one—-by far the best.—of Miss Stpddart’s drawings on the wall. .The permanent' collection has already a very; fine .flower study by the Christchurch artist; it now secures a really fine and eminently characteristic sketch of mountain scenery from the same brush. This view, in the Mount Cook region, “From the Ball Hut,” represents Miss Stoddart’s landscape art at its best and should delight all who can appreciate sound, really fine drawing. ■ -Miss: Stqddart occasionally uses body colour,; which, as a rule, one : rather distrusts, but all her work, differ sometimes as artists'and critics may do as to .her rnethx ods, has undoubtedly a quality of its own. This exhibition, in addition to her mountain sketch, also includes a delightful drawing, “Pleasant Point.” “Grey Day in the Estuary,” which is as good as her “Low Tide in the Estuary,” is rather thin and disappointing. I much prefer her restful “Autumn on the TVaimakiriri,” but some may like her “Lyttelton Harbour.” • u Another woman artist whose work is very fresh and always entertaining is Mrs. ■ Hope, well known as an old contributor as'Miss Esther Barker. .Mrs. Hope’s clever brush has been employed on several water-colours, depicting mountain scenery seen in.the Mackenzie Country, on the Canterbury side of the Southern Alps. - ' ’ ■- '"■ •• The contributions of Mr. Waghorn, whose-distinct progress has been very favourably commented on.at the last two shows, are .this time, more than usually sound and pleasing.. All his drawings are notable, especially his “Morning: Sunshine,” and “Northerly at Titahi” (a very fine sea-picce), but my preference must go to his “Evening Tinted Ridge,’ in which the colouring of the range in the background is so delightfully rich. This is an exceptionally successful drawing. ■ N Esmond Atkinson, always topographically interesting, has two sketches. “Lowry Bay and the Hutt’’ is in many ways a quietly delightful drawing, but a study at. the “Mouth of the Wainui”- seems a little indohate, the desired effect ' not being, fully attained, j . : L ' Roland Hipkins, whose large, rather decorative drawing of “A Wellington Suburb” has attracted much attention, is in (he Upper. Gallery represented by-a pleasing drawing, “Ross on Dye.’ In the same section Mrs. D. M. Tombs has some delicately-painted but always effective work. Her drawing of 4 A Cornish Bay, Near. Tintagel” is perhaps her best, but all her work is deserving ,of careful considerfition.,' ’ '

A Veteran’s Drawings. That veteran artist, Mr. Menzies Gibbs, of Christchurch, is represented by several drawings. The largest in size, “In ■ the Fields, Leithfield,” is a welldrawn landscape, but I prefer the smalIcr'sketches, “Sandhills at New Brighton and “The Estuary, Pleasant Point. His “Otira Valley” is, perhaps, a trifle more conventional in feeling, but this, and his “Wheatfield at Geraldine.” will both have their admirers. The sky in the latter is very good. : ' f \ ‘ Miss Mvrtle Lee is represented in this section by' her “Tomato Growers” and. A Belmont Garden.” both interesting contributions. I like, too, the flowers and still-life of Mrs. Mary S. Adam m “A Mixed Bunch.” •Several drawings, all very delicately coloured, by Catherine Gooder, deserve attention. There is something pleasantly reminiscent of a Raekham influence in her “Goblin Market,” and I like, too, the “Japanesery”'Mitsu of Mabel Clapson. Miss Nancy Messengers Cainese Lady” is, also, an attractive, drawing. The coloured woodcuts, representing Venetian scenes, of Mr. James Scott, repay attention. . Many other drawings m the upstairs -allery call for attention, but space limits forbid. On the whole, the local work, especially four younger artists, shows distinct promise. Possibly, by the lime the September exhibition is on, the weather and other conditions will have unproved, and the result should be more direct work, which will be eminently pleasing.