NEW ZEALAND ARTIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19834, 3 January 1928, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND ARTIST.

MR. W. ROBERT JOHNSON. SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. Occupying a high place among artists born in New Zealand who have distinguished themselves abroad, Mr. W. Robert Johnson is now spending a three months' holiday in New Zealand. Mr. Johnson, who was born in Auckland and served with tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has won recognition and success in Australia, where he has lived and painted for tho past seven years. His subjects are usually landscapes, and his style is definitely modern, but in no sense wild or revolutionary. Two pictures of tho Cloth Hall, Ypres, painted by Mi*. Johnson, are in the Auckland Art Gallery. Mr. Johnson's popularity in Australia is proved by the success of a "one-man show" held by him in Sydney last September. Out of* 36 pictures shown, 35 were sold, and about half of these wero claimed' before the exhibition opened. The New Zealand artist then sold some £6OO worth of pictures. In the proportion of pictures sold, Mr. Johnson's show was a record for Australia, Mr. Johnson received, his early training in Auckland from Mr. Archibald F. Nicoll, New Zealand's finest portrait painter, and Mr. Fristram. He speaks m high terms of their enthusiasm and ability, but considers he owes much to' his experience in Australia.