ART EXHIBITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18342, 30 May 1931, Page 9

ART EXHIBITION.

AUCKLAND SOCIETY SHOW. SUCCESS OF LOCAL ARTISTS. The annual exhiibtion of the Auckland Society of Arts was, opened by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, on Thursday, May 21. The exhibition includes some 200 pictures, representative of New Zealand and Australian artists, and a notable portrait by Doris Zinkeisen, a well-known English artist who visited New' Zealand some months ago. Eliolh Gruner, the Australian landscape painter., exhibits a wonderful study of Rotorua country. Local artists are well represented, and in all have contributed twelve pictures. Most prominent among these are the portraits painted by Ida H. Carey, of Hillcrest, whose work ranks easily among the best in the exhibition. The portrait of the artist’s mother is particularly fine—a dull, sombre picture at first glance, but gripping in its interest and appeal with more careful study. In contrast with ttiis, and placed directly above' it, is a delightful picture of a girl, in Dutch costume, spinning in a brick-floored kitchen. The .atmosphere of the central idea is most carefully preserved in every detail, with old delft jugs and soft Dutcli blues. A live, glowing, out-of-door study of a girl, with a cioudy-sky background, shows a new departure in the use of purely decorative effects, and is skilfully painted. There is clever brush-work in the portrait of a young girl in a glorious yellow frock.. The

crisp folds of the dress and the softer drapery of the dull blue background are very real, white the face of the sitter is full of Interest and strength. Another contrast-is seen in the delightful study, placed above this last picture, of a model posing, showing graceful, rounded limbs and. a stiff, full frock. 1 Besides these portraits: are two flower studies by the same artist, one of deep blue and pink hydrangeas, and another or zinnias and china. Again the skilful work of Miss Carey is easily recognised, colourful and sympathetic in its treatment ,of her subjects. , , . Mrs Coombs has achieved some measure of success in her portrait, “Eleanor.” This picture depicts a young girl in a floral frock of soft pink and blue tones. In the water-colour section is the work of Dorothy Ashton, who exhibits a study of anemones In glorious red and blue. The strong colours of the flowers are well painted. Two landscapes, one of Shoal Bay, Auckland, and another of 'Rotorua, come from the same artist. “Early Morning, Rotorua,” shows the lovely soft haze beginning lo lift from the land with the dawning light. Still softer and greyer is “Shoal Bay.” Mrs Spencer (Nettie Pullene)' has one landscape, “The Red of the Waikato." Her •treatment. of New Zealand scenery is always- most sincere and there is no falling away from. her usual standard in this picture. / '• ' A" '■ !- i ' . £ : ■••-1== ;