OTAGO ART SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 11

OTAGO ART SOCIETY

WINTER SKETCH EXHIBITION AROUND THE PICTURES No. If. Landscape and flower studies predominate in the exhibits at the annual winter sketch exhibition of- the Otago Art Society at the Pioneer Hall, and visitors will find a great deal to interest them. The merit of many of the pictures shows that excellent work is being done by some, of the members, reflecting definite progress; but, oii the other band, as is probably inevitable' in an exhibition where every member who desires is allowed to hang pictures, there is a fairly steep descent from the best to the less good. Appended are further notes on some of tho exhibits:—

Mr E. W. Walden lias never done bettor work than in ‘ Mount Earnslaw,’ witli which he Von tho first prize for landscape or seascape in water colours. It is only a’ small picture, but achieves effectiveness with its true perspective, naturalness, and fine balance of tones. The small pictures of Lake Hawea and of Milford Sound are also pleasing in their general effect. Both in landscape and seascape A. Latham has some attractive work. The best is a view at Stewart Island, very typical of the ■ scene. The water in the foreground of ‘ Greenstone River’, ia beautifully painted, but the colouring of tho top portion of the picture is badly mixed and mars the general effect. Of A. Dickison’s .water colours the best is ‘ Entra'nce to Bethune’s Gully,’ with excellent attention to light and shade and to the drawing of the trees. ‘ Lake Waihola ’ ia very typical of the scene, and in the ‘ Water of Leith ’ the rocks in the foreground are convincing.

Of sis little _ pictures by Pearl E. Hutton, ‘ Morning Mist, Wanaka,’ has thq best general effect, the painter having caught the right atmosphere. E. Williamson's- ‘Japanese Anemones ' is nicely painted, but the bowl holding the flowers is not well placed, 1 Roses,’ by Margaret G. Gairdner, is a pleasing study,, the flowers being well drawn and coloured.

Flower studies by Mrs Cox make attractive pictures. Her ‘ Roses ’ is the best, several of the others being inclined to be a trifle hard.

~ Of several pictures by Miss A. de B. Hutton, ‘ Autumn ’ makes the greats est appeal, the artist having imparted red tints of that season into her work.

Mr Bob Reid’s delightful little pictures of country scenes are always welcome at' the cxhibitioils. There is good work in ‘The Old Stable ’ and other views, but the best effect is won in the small canvas ‘ On the Leith,’^a.picture’ true to Nature, with life in tho water and music in the trees.

Light and shade are, well balanced in M. 8.. Holloway’s ‘ On a Canterbury Road,’ a picture well drawn and with the colours nicely balanced. , F. Sykes’s sketch, Moonlight, Long ‘Beach,, is one of the most sterling exhibits on, the walls. '. The cliffs are_ excellently drawn, and the play of light on'the. water and: sand as cleverly handled. In ‘ Last Gleam, Jubilee Park," this artist has very effectively pictured .the sunlight among the trees. ‘"Marguerites,’ a flower study, is the -best of several pictures by Maud Wilkie. The perspective is good and the flowers*,'are well painted. A decided improvement. Is shown by Carl ‘ Wcssman, whose painting of Mount . Cook reveals thoughtful _ and direful work. The draughtsmanship is good, ahd the mountains, with their covering of snow, are exceedingly well painted. Mr Wessman’s sketch of the Fallen, Soldiers’ Memorial < in the Queen’s Gardens also contains good work.

Mr Charles Buchan has four portrait studies in which there is a great deal of good work. The expressions and treatment are good, but the paintings are a trifle too hard.