WienekeArchiveBook1

Landscapes And Flowers The first one 1114111 exItibi- don of Vera Leichney. opening today at. Finney's Gallery, is a collection of decorative flower nieces and landscapes painted in oil. Mrs. Leichney shows work painted over some years. and it is interesting to see in her recent efforts a distinct change taking place. there is evidence cf broader and crisper hand- ling, denoting greater power of Expression. "White Daisies." has distinct charm and quality of its own and is a beautiful little oil. It is cleanly painted. is very simple, and few colours have been used beyond blue, white and yellow. Rich colour, with a nice sense of balance, are success- fully painted into the "Mixed Bowl," making a sincere and friendly picture. I think the work. "Blossom. and Reflections," is a good example of the painting pro- gress Mrs. Leichney is making. The handling shows an in- creasing sureness and spon- taneity: and, while not agree- ing with certain passages in the composition itself, I see very sound evidence of a new phase, with not so much em- phasis on what is actually seen, but a deeper appreciation of aesthetic qualities. Sensitive feeling ft values and clean colour combine to make "Coolangatta Coastline" a happy landscape, and "Sun, Mist and Smoke" captures strong light against the mystery of grey distance. "Swamp Trees" also makes a quiet bid for recognition. Compare this painting with "Hydrangea and Cut, Glass." for instance, and notice the difference. However, it must not be forgotten that the earlier experiments, with close attention to all detail, did serve a valuable purpose in the development now taking place. "Sweet ?ea and Heather" is turiothe, showing similar signs. It is 11,th fresh and direct. Some of the dark back- grounds and too rich colours, I felt somewhat overpowering and lacking sufficient variety. but when the artist paints a canvas like "Chrysanthe- mums," no such remarks are necessary, for this one is a fine little work. - JAMES WIENEKE. Interesting And lively Painting PITH wide variety of subject. treatment and approach. t he third "Two-nitin exhibl- ion" by W. G. and Gwendolyn Grant. opened yesterday at [limeys Gallery. In their 60 watercolours both artists re- veal their progress in a most 'nteresting exhibition. Mr. Grant is a prolific. worker and one who oblously. enjoys employing his brush. Het Is an adventurnus and inter - aging painter, finding subjects from his own door to coast, n' country, Very much the 'nclividualist. he paints with broad outlook and loose hand- ing, and turns in many fine. leorotts sketches. T belieVe,he could sometimes 'arry things Mat %her, however, and thug really. .4rniounnsd off some capital imores- . "A Quiet Day" Will serve as m example of what I mean. Here is a sketch with a fine beginning which becomes dis- appointing through ita lack of, the sea, tgrtreaniainntthaVf form In the On the other hand. Mr. Grant admirably demons- traten hia ability in the naint- Ina of "under the orange Tree." It le a bread niece of balmy painting, direct and snarklina with rich colour. "Woman and Goats" is a ztimulatina thine too, with a bold. crisp simplicity. but I 'Ong to ceP those legs and booty tones deener I liked the subtle "Sand, Dunes." the swiftly painted I "Lagoon." "Flowers." the excel- lent "Goats." "Breakfast -Creek." "Wickham Terrace.' and the very luminous "Bench." Mrs. Grant contributeS about one-third of the pictures in the exhibition and also shows some very fresh and lively works. Her recent paintings indicate considerable change of method and outiook. and with "Fishing On Second !Beach," she exhibits an un- usually attractive atcr-colour, JAMES WIENEKE.