WienekeArchiveBook1

SHOW OF PROMISE TWO young painters face the public today with a joint exhibition of interesting and very promising work. The show is in the Albert Gallery, Ann Street. just round the cor- ner from Albert Street. Miss Pamela Seeman and Mr. Laurence Collinson ex hibit over 40 works in oil, water-colour and line; in addi- tion there is a large number of sketches. It is good to see evidence of continuous study and search of form while the painters are attempting to unravel the mys-.1, tery of colour and enjoying the? adventure of picture painting. Imagination and resolution are behind Miss Seeman's work. Her portraits are strong and forceful. "The Head of an Mid Man" is a courageous at- tack,' revealing a keen search for character and truth. The "Study" (wash) is another!' penetr-ling work. A number of the heads, however. are too brittle. Her colour is develop- ing: you can see this In "Still Life" though more than enough has been made of the fruit. Sensitive %LISS SEEMAN'S line draw- ings from life are sensitim land prove her desire to master form. There is variety, and I may say good value, in her isketches-many of them sug- gesting! a good deal more than they say. Mr. Collinson's work is mak- ing progress, though he appears to be experimenting in very many directions. But out of this variety of method and ap- proach he will probably find a more individual interpretation. I feel sorry that sane of his theatre designs, which the catalogue informs were highly successful, are not exhibited. as these would have been very Interesting also. '.'Point Lookout" is a large water-colour, luminous, decora- tive and very ditect. deo. There is a very sombre note about "Bribie Passage"-but it is strong and simple. Mr. Collinson appears hap- pier in his coloured drawings sustained by line (a good method when used with discre- tion' and had "Suburban Pub" and a few of the others been carried a little further, they would have been excellent com- ments on life of the day- JAMES WIENEKE. . 416- Ballet Pastels At Centaur House THE Athol Nicholas exhibition of pastel drawings opening today of Centaur House, Queen Street, includes some of the best work Mr. Nieholos has shown in Brisbane. THAT in itself is very com- mendable, but one does feel that after seeing this thiru one-man show, the artist's ballet pictures are perhaps In danger of becoming repetitive. so many of them say very nearly the same thing as they ',aid before. Of course each detail of movement would be of particular interest to the stud- ent of choreography. I am sure. In any case. the ballet drawing "Figure Study" (4) is one of the best. It Is a de- lightfully fresh thing, spon- tansously and sympathetic- ally touched in, successfully catching the grace and .rhythm of the movement. Two others which I liked are the charming "Leap From the Wings" and "Sylphides" (211. "Stepper" shows' traditional dancers inside an Irish farm house, and possesses a some - "hat different approach, mak- I .( another Interesting drawing. With great economy of chalk, Mr. Nicholas produces a well handled flower piece in "Gladi- oli," and fully appreciates the character of the bloom. He makes 'Roses" considerably richer in colour and retains the beauty of the medium. "Sea Piece" did not appeal to me. but "Cinerarias." the colourful "Hibiscus" and "Chry- santhemums" are all enjoyable works. Included in the exhibition are many miniature, ballet pas- tels, and pencil drawings and sketches.-JAMES WIENEKE. Sombre Painting In Yule Pictures S'MALL drawings, olib and water colours, by John Yule, who studied for some time under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme, are on show from to- day, at the Albert Gallery, Ann Street. Mr. Yule rarely attempts the painting of our sunny lands - scene. Both his tone and colour are very sombre. His work shows sonic promise and has feeling. However, it lacks bal- ance of values, and requires further experience and study. Bigger canvases, paper and brushes would help solve some of the painter's immediate problems, and offer better op- poqunity for expression. The "Little Girl in the Bush" makes a fresh and broad sketch, and is painted with an appreciation of the essentials. Very quiet colour and sim- plicity of arrangement are seen in "Kinneberg's Shack," and the smaller. "Chalet. Daytime," will find admirers. It is one of the best. "Mountain Valley" is an in- teresting work, but too much has been attempted on a small scale. A number of works suffer in the same way. "Smie- 'gins nreek". is another intprro- ing picture, painted with sill- eerity and feeling. Both inter- pretations suggest a rather on- usual approach. Good pattern runs through "Hut In the Kosciusko Ranges" and the small "Stonemason's Shed" makes a bid for recog- nition. Of the figure work, the por- trait sketch of Charles Osborne made most appeal, revealing good search for character.- JAMES WIENEKE.