OTAGO ART SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15788, 12 June 1913, Page 4

OTAGO ART SOCIETY.

FINE EXHIBITION OF .SKETCHES. The annual winter exhibition of sketches by tho Otc.go Art Society was opened in the Art Galleiry Hall on Tuesday afternoon, and both ttan and yesterday has attracted a large number of these interested in art. This year' 6 exhibition k probably quite as good as any that has preceded it, and the exhibits are numerous and . varied and, generally speakng, reach a high standard.

The one wall with its wings is devoted to work done by the pupils attending the Dunedin School of Art, and the work shov?s tho students aTo making progress. It is without doubt superior to what has been 6eeri on exhibition heretofore, and much credit is due to the director of the school (Mr R. Hawcridgo) for the advancement made by the pupils, and to the pupils themselves for the evident genuine efforts they havo put forth in producing good work, The capable ,staff connected with the school cannot have been idle either. This consists of Mr A. H. O'Keeffe (painting, drawing from life and from tho antique). Miss N. L. Huttou (drawing, elementary light and shade, painting, &c.), Mr Nelson Isaac (arts and crafts and painting in water colours), Mr D. Sheriff (bnilding, etc.), Mr R. Ainslie (mechanical drawing, &e.), Mr W. Wakelin (geometrical dTawing, &c.), Mr J. M'Peak (design), Mr A. H. Fraser (decoration), and Mias G. Thomson (art needlework, &c.). Tho exhibition by the pupils presents various branches of art. There is an interesting collection of charcoal studies, somo from life and some from the east. There arc also some attractive oil studies of still life, and a few water colours evidently from Nature, and examples of flower painting display nice broad treatment. In connection with the work done by students, the names. of Miss E. A, Perry, Miss Daisy White, Miss Christina White, Ernest Thomson, Miss Mowat, A. S. Tnrnbnll, J. S. M'Evoy, Miss Stark, Miss M'Kollar, Miss Colleen Wood, Miss Maud Adam, D. Bosie, N. O'Donnell, and H. Latimer may be mentioned.

Apart from the pupils one of the principal exhibitors is Miss JI. A. Park, who has about a coirplo of dozen studies in oil, including two portraits. The work is all up to a high standard, harmonious colouring and breadth of treatment characterising all the landecapes. Some little Irish farm scenes are quite attractive in theif way. The studies by C. F. Kelly, half a dozen in number, bear the imprint of considerable success in impressionistic treatment, tho picture entitled " Tho Novel " striking the visitor as a particularly happy, effort. Miss Maud BTOokesmith, of Invercargill, • is represented by two meritorious scenes in Lake Wakatipu in soanhre colouring, and two other southern lanscapes by the same artist aro. also pleasing to the eye. •J. Elder Moultray has ■ hung two attractive studies in sepia, the seascape in particular being attractive. Mr Moultray's artistic enterprise lis also maintained in his picture of H.M.S. New Zealand off, tho Heads. W. J. Taylor's exhibits in water colours, though of diminutive size, show considerablo skill in handling the water colour medium. Miss Nellie Hutton has contributed five or six pictures of the Otago coast which give great promise, though they are perhaps somewhat over-finished. "Cape Saunders" will probably find most favour. A. 11. Dunstan's work in water colours is distinctly promising and shows delicacy of treatment. "A Wet Day," a representation of the Upper Harbour, Bunedin, is a faithful piece of ivork. Albert Hanson's productions are so well known that they do not need much comment. Mr Hanson is represented by a few very attractive water colours. W, S. Wauchop is promi- ■ nent with nine or ten studies in oil and water colours, in which the brush work is somewhat heavy and perhaps coarse, though tho drawing is very faithful, Iv. Hill Jack has two or three rather clever little water colour sketches, and a pencil sketch of children apparently receiving a sinking lesson, in which the grouping and drawing are excellent. Miss Jessie Newton fiupplieii three little water colours somewhat highly coloured. G. W. Carrington is well represented, and his energy in the pursuit of art is again abundantly in evidence by the number of sketches from his brush. These are in oil, and display all tlii well-known teristics of the artist's methods. His depiction of typical scenic impressions of Otago possess much artistic merit, and his predilection for certain somewhat vivid colour schemes is rather prominent. E. Herdman Smith is represented by about a dozen water colours of subjects abroad, executed in a style with which most visitors to the local gallery mil bo familiar. "Dawn in Whitby" may bo singled out as quite his most pleasing production. The high colouring of Mr llerdman Smith':; pictures is undoubtedly conspicuous, but where this feature is not so much in evidence the effect produced is extremely pleasing. Richard Wallworth, A.R.C.A., London, contributes to the collection a charming little oil study of a scene in Fal/ersoii's Inlet, Stewart Island, the vigour and 'life of which is quite refreshing. "Lov; Tide on the South English Coast" is another excellent/ specimen of the same artist's work. Miss H. Chapman and Miss V. Chapman are both represented by studies, on impressionistic lines, of Continental subjects. The curious effect of a little picture entitled " Creeping Shadows.'' by Miss H. Chapman, will not escape notice. JLLss V, Chapman's most attractive picduction is perhaps a strong study entitled " Old Bruges," the

lighting contrasts of -which axe excellent. Miss A. Elizabeth Kelly has a capital .study of a' girl's head, and also a clever evening picture. David E. Rutton exhibits a number of pictures in oil and wafer colours, the subjects in most instances representing impressions gained on the Continent. The decorative effect of these pictures is admittedly somewhat unpleasantly pronounced. However, in 011© or two small New Zealand landscapes Mr Button lias been very successful. Miss Dora Watson has a number of water colours of varied merit, the best of them being some exceedingly pleasing English landscapes. " The. Road to the Farm " is an attractive subject, and is handled with considerable skill. Mrs G. Joachim is represented by a very attractive quartet of water-colour f studies con. spicuous for delicacy of colour and treatment. H. R. Cole 'has hung a number of typical marine sketches, quite the best of which is that named " A Last Glimpse of H.M.S. New Zealand." Here the atmospheric effect is very good. In Mr Cole's other work there is an obvious tendency to elaboration. Mies Hartley exhibits a collection of water-colours of,merit, whicn are not less pleasing because they are sketch® in fi true sense. F. R. Brown has an attractive seascape in oils and an effective little evening scene in the same medium. Miss Mabel Hill is unusually well represented, and all her work, which is in water-colours, bears the mark of her recognised skill In handling her subjects. Her drawing is particularly good, and the artist has been very successful in her little seascapes. Her picture of Brighton is a very pleasing effort. W. A. Bollard's wellknown style is discernible in a number of sketches of bush and river and a couple of seascapes. "The Rippling Leitli" is a good example of Mr Bollard's work. Mrs J. G. Rollo Fisher shows a, very clever study of a little girl's head, painted iu oil, and tho colouring is pleasing, except that that of the faco is perhaps a trifle, high, J. Balfour has about a dozen -Irish fishing and village scenes, some of which are very attractive; but Mr Balfour's methods sometimes convoy an :m----prqssion of stiffness. This, however, is removed on a closer examination. "In Cornwall" is one of this artist's happiest efforts, and a contrasting se3sca]» reveals vigorous and successful handling. N. Welch has on the wall both water-colours and oil paintings, which are characterised by good drawing and vigorous brush work, though the effects resulting are not always oyer clean. An interesting study is entitled " Shipping at Wellington," and 11 The Ford" is a good example of ihc artist's work in water-colours. Among the other exhibitors aTc W. S. Melvin, G. Killick (half a dozen landscapes, the subjects being well chosen, but having hardness of treatment in a somewhat pronounced form), J. M Dickson (wateT-colouT landscapes, also somewhat hard in treatment and rather crudo in colour), Mrs P; Milburn (flower studies in oil), E. Woodhouso (several water-colours, of which the most attractive is a thatched, cottage, Canterbury, and a nice little peep of Catlin's River), Mrs P. L. Algie, Essie Green, and M. J. Rogers (pleasing little landscapes in water-colours). The exhibition, which is well worth a visit, will remain open daily until Saturday evening.