A LOCAL STUDIO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10601, 9 March 1895, Page 3

A LOCAL STUDIO .

A representative fef this paper, a few days ago, spent an hour very pleasantly inspecting the studio of Miss Gulliford, ayoung Christchurch"' artist, who has given undoubted proof of ability. Prom an examinatipn of the many, pictures the studio contains, it was at once evident that M~ia« Culliford does hot confine her art to ono branch alone, but is equally successful in figure and flower and landscape painting. A large and ambitions canvas, "On the Upper Selwyn,” shows strength and boldness.. That it was painted on the spot itself ia proved by the "life” apparent in the water, no less than in the crisping foam, while the peculiar tint of the snow-water is well - depicted. THiln picture is, without doubts the finest landscape in the studio. Anotherj-of a more, reposeful kind, is " Through the Woods,” and here the warm orange and brown colouring of the autumnal woods is well rendered. In the blue tones of the girl’s dress is visible one of the artist’s chief characteristics—a nice perception of the value of colour. "At Whitecliffs ” is a very pretty study of rocks and foaming .water depicted with, pleasing accuracy. Another careful bit of work is " Sandhills near New Brighton.” Here truthfulness is the great charm. It is the sandhills themselves with their gray ridges fringed with orange grass, and dotted with clumps of lupin, broom and gorse. _ An unnamed picture just completed is a study in colour, a good example of the artist’s forte. It represents a sheaf of buttercups in a large bronze jar standing on a polished table that reflects both jar and flowers. Dark crimson makes an , effective background,, and full advantage has been taken of tho graceful curves afforded by the subjects, and the result is a harmonious and pleasing picture in the artist’s happiest style. A water-colour near by—a bit of the Avon —has the suggestive depth of an oit colour, and the'reflections of trees and springtime foliage are well worked in. Three decorative panels are worthy of notice. " Among the Bocks,” a gully stream seen between- the branches of a kowhai in full blossom, is carefully done. Equally good is a pretty bush clematis festooning a lofty tree; here the pictorial effect is gained by the landscape background. “ Purple and Gold ” is another fine piece of decorative design, and rewards careful study of its colour scheme. It represents a Japanese jar of chrysanthemums in which great attention has been paid to detail, while the stateliness of the whole design is very apparent. Of the figure studies " The Toung Bird Trainer " shows much merit. The'boy is strongly and' firmly, painted, while hia pose is extremely natural. A number of these pictures will shortly be placed ■ on, view for public inspection preparatory to being made prizes in an art union, the management of which has been kindly undertaken by hia Worship the Mayor of Christchurch.