MASTERY OF COLOUR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 14

MASTERY OF COLOUR

Wellington Artist Opens Exhibition Only a few artists have had the courage to paint the true New Zealand —the brilliant atmosphere and rich colouring which is so marked a characteristic of the New Zealand land and seascape. One of them is Mr. Marcus King, perhaps Wellington’s best-known artist, who has a group of new watercolours and oils on exhibition at the New Zealand Artists’ Group Gallery. Bowen House, Wellington. A less skilful brush might over-execute the colouring Mr. King achieves, making the scene too brilliant to please the eye. But this artist lias a delicacy which prevents him from overdoing a scene. His work includes n number of coastal scenes painted around the Wellington coastline, and in these he has caught the moods of the sea as well as the ta’thful colour and “lie” of the rocks anil rolling hills. In a typical scene Mr. King has a remarkable “life.” Two hoys are fishing from the roi-ks. and one of them has a bite. Although the figure is small, its poise and tension nt once reveal that the artist has exceptional drawing ability. This opinion is borne out when a number of other works arc viewed, particularly the oil portraits of the artist's niece, a perfect head of his father, a sitting portrait. of a friend, and another picture of a woman in the costume of a Dickens character. The last is an arresting portrait by reason of tlie rich tones of a puce dress, which, frilling to the floor in folds, lends itself to some remnrknble effects of light and shade. From Unwater colours it is evident that rhe .artist delights in brightness, and he is indeed fortunate in the gifts of exocutmn and (ho correct sense of atmosphere which enable him so delightfully to reproduce such brilliant tones. >'evorthele<s. he can also paint the more sombre lines, as is evident in a beautiful moonlight cameo of gentle wavelets i/re-sing the sand. The exhibition opened yesterday afternoon. and will continue daily. FOR SARJEANT GALLERY Lamorna Birch Water-colour It was announced .yesterday that one of the much admired of the larger watercolours by Mr. J. 8. Lamorna Birch, I! A., which are on exhibition at the National Art Gallery, had been purchased by Mr. F. G. Maunsell, of Masterton. for presentation tn the Sai-jeant Gallery at Wanganui. The drawing it* entitled “Grey Day Uaetihi." It is a beautifullytoned drawing of a eharacteris-tic bit of the country, looking up a lively little stream, with a glimpse of Mount Uuapehu tilling in tlie vista, painted with typical energy and taste. The price was £47.

Mr. Birch has left for Ihe Wairarapa. He will return to the city oil Tuesday next.