OTAGO ART SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3092, 18 June 1913, Page 5

OTAGO ART SOCIETY.

FINE EXHIBITION OF SKETCHES

The annual winter exhibition of sketches by the Otago Art Society was opened in the Art Gallery Hall on Tuesday, 10th inst.

The one wall with its wings is devoted to work done by the pupils attending the Dunedin School of Art, and the work shows the students are making progress. It is without doubt superior to what has been seen on exhibition heretofore, and much credit is due to the director of the school (Mr R. Hawcridge) for the advancement made by the pupils, and to the pupils themselves for the evident genuine efforts they have put forth in producing good work. The capable staff connected with the school cannot have been idle either. The exhibition by the pupils presents various branches of art. There is an interesting collection of charcoal studies, some from life and some from the east. There are 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. Turnbull, J. S. M'Evoy, Miss Stark, Mies M'Kellar, Mies 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 M A. Park, who has about a couple 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 landscapes. Some little Irish farm scenes are cjuite attractive in their" way. The studies by C. F. Kelly, half a dozen in number, bear the imprint of considerable success in impressionistic treatment, the picture entitled “ The Novel ” striking the visitor as a particularly happy effort. Miss Maud Brookesmith, of Invercargill, is represented by two meritorious scenes in Lake Wakatipu in sombre colouring, and two other southern Janscapes by the same artist are also pleasing to the eye. J. Elder Monltray has hung two attractive studies in sepia, the seascape in particular being attractive. Mr Moultray’s artistic enterprise is also maintained in his picture of H.M.S. New Zealand off the Heads. W. J. Taylor’s exhibits in water colours, though of diminutive size, show considerable 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. H. Dunstan’s work in water colours is distinctly promising and shows delicacy of treatment. “ A Wet Day,” a representation of the Upper Harbour, Dunedin, is a faithful piece of work. 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 prominent with nine or tea studies in oil and water colours, in which the brush work is somewhat heavy and perhaps coarse, though the drawing is very faithful. K. Hill Jack has two or three rather clever little water colour sketches, and a pencil sketch of children apparently receiving a singing lesson, in which the grouping and drawing are excellent. Miss Jessie Newton supplies three little water colours somewliat 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 the well-known characteristics of the artist’s methods. His depiction of typical scenic impressions of Otago possess much artistic merit, and his predilection for certain somewhat vividcolour schemes is rather prominent. R. 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 will he familiar. “Dawn in Whitby” may be singled out as quite his most pleasing production. The high colouring of Mr Herdman Smith’s 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 Paterson’s Inlet, Stewart Island, the vigour and life of which is quite refreshing. “ Low Tide on the South English Coast” is another excelled specimen of the same artist's yvork. Miss 11. 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. Cliapman, will not escape notice. Miss V. Chapman’s meet attractive production is perhaps a strong study entitled “ Old Bruges,” the licrhting contrasts of which are excellent. i\fLss A. Elizabeth Kelly has a capital study of a girl’s head, and also a clever

evening picture. David E. Hutton exhibits a number of pictures in oil and water 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 one or two small New Zealand landscapes Mr Hutton has 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 studies conspicuous 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, which are not less pleasing because they are sketches in a true sense. F. R. Brown has an attractive sea-scape 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 scenery, and a couple of seascapes. “ The Rippling Leith” 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 in oil, and the colouring is pleasing, except that that of the face 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 convey an impression of stiffness. This, however, is removed on a closer examination. ‘‘ In Cornwall ” is one of this artist’s happiest efforts, and a contrasting seascape 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 over clean. An interesting study is entitled ‘‘ Shipping at Wellington,” and “The Ford” is a good example of /he artist’s work in water-colours.

Among the other exhibitors are 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 (water-colour landscapes, also somewhat hard in treatment and rather crude in colour), Mrs P. Milburn (flower studies in oil), E. M oodhouse (several water-colours, of which the most attractive is a thatched cottage, Canterbury, and a nice little of Gatlin’s River), Mrs P. L. Algie, Essie Green, and M. J. Rogers (pleasing little landscapes in water-colours). The exhibition, which is well yvorth a visit, will remain open daily until Saturday evening.