ART EXHIBITION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2029, 16 August 1920, Page 11

ART EXHIBITION.

DISPLAY BY DIGGER ARTISTS. The War may not have influenced art to th'e extent that was at one ,time anticipated, but it has most certainly been the medium of broadening the outlook and developing the work of.many of our younger artists. Three Auckland painters who have returned from military seivice, better equipped in every way to follow their chosen profession,, are Messrs F. MeCraeken, W. Hobert Johnson and J. Weeks. Examples of their work made a distinctly favourable impression at the last exhibition of the Canterbury Society of Arts. They ha\x u °w opened an extremely comprehensive and wellbalanced exhibition of oil and water i colour paintings iu the Art Gallery, (which is well worthy of public, notice. Naturally, in an exhibition of several hundred pictures, which are the works of comparatively young artists, a certain amount of unevenness is in evidence, buf the general impression is distinctly pleasing. ,In some respects they have all absorbed English ideas and formulas during their period abroad, although, of course, their main training was obtained in New Zealand. There is a very great deal to interest in the works displayed by Mr MeCraeken. This painter has individuality and his oil colours stand out. He is essentially versatile, and his subjects cover a wide range. Of chief interest is the fact that he is starting out as a figure painter, and there are some good examples of this class of work from his brush. The painting of a young girl is a notable example of effective handling, the pose being easy, whilst it igves the impression of freedom., Mr MeCraeken has some large canvases. Easily the best of these is a spring scene in Surrey. -Mr MeCraeken lost a leg in France ami while at the Oatlans Park, in Surrey, managed, quite profitably, to depict the countryside. He has also a number of Cornish scenes, an exceptional one being a waterside nocturne. In his water-colour painting, he is not quite so successful, there being noticeable signs that greater study has been given to oils. Mr Wicks, on the other hand, is more at home iu water colours. Most of his sketches are small. .Many depict scenes Of the actual battlefield, and scenes of devastation in France. He is somewhat of an impressionist at times, and his work often reflects tendencies jof the Australian school. A splendid |lit:le sketch is that of Trafalgar Square, Loudon. Mr Johnson included in his travels a visit to Egypt, with some advantage to his education in .-ut. lie has ability in figure drawing, and his subjects are diverse. The exhibition will be open for 1(J ! days.