NEW WATERCOLOURS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 6

NEW WATERCOLOURS

GOOD WORK BY MR. H. H. TOMBS. Mr. H. H. Tombs, of Wellington, has recently returned from an extensive tour of Europe, most ot which was spent in Great Britain, where the range of scenery is as extensive as in any country on the Continent. While at Home, Air. Tc-mbs did not miss the opportunity of procuring skilled instruction in sketching, and some of his most pleasant memories are associated with expeditions into rural England, not so very far from London. The first ot that instruction appears now upon the walls of the British Medical Association’s rooms, 26 The Terrace, and will ba on show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from to-day until Friday next. Mr. Tombs presents twenty-seven water-colours, mostly of a size that will suit any room, taking in views English, Swiss, Australian, New Zealand, and foreign. The bits of England Mr. Tombs has reproduced show how deeply the smooth, cultivated, calm restfulness, of the English countryside appealed to his sense of beauty. He quickly sensed those differences in tone that mark every field and hedge in the chess-board farming lands of the Surrey Downs. One charming bit ho -has preserved is “Ou the Southampton Road,” as fresh and clean as though taken with the dew still upon tho grass blades. Mr. Tombs is primarily a clean colourist, with a nice sense of balance, anil a definiteness in outline that shows clear thinking. He never blurs for chance effect or puzzlement. "Teddingtcn Locks,” is another refreshing glimpse of the and "Blue Anchor Bay” is a fresh and'stimulating composition in true Somerset colouring. "Tret's near the Spaniards, Hampstead Heath," might be a bit of Australian bush, but it is comprehensible that one might be within 200 yards ol the old inn once frequented by Dick Turpin, and yet he "remote from mortal man," for such is the glory of Hampstead Heath. The 1640 red brick cottage at Denham (just out of London) is famous in art circles. While sketching its ancient creeper-hung walls, Mr. Tombs was informed that he was the four hundred and fiftieth artist who had used the house as a subject. Mr. Tomhs’s effort is most desirable in its warmth of colour... and homely somnolent atmosphere, “interior London” is architectural —a clever sombinntion of sombre browns, with’ good light disposition. . The artist’s versatility is admirably displayed as he moves ground. ■ The sketches of Swiss scenes are quite*captivating in their crisp clarity of atmosphere? rare colouring, and character. "The Swiss Chalet," a l it of eld Grindel--wald, is well painted, the distance and altitude of the Alps beyond the old house being cleverly conveyed. "Axenstrasse" is'a road tunnel, with a distant view of tho crystalline Alps in the distance; but for sheer prettiness, nothing in the show exceeds ‘ Tarn dn Alt Foulhorn.” a ’-fit of pellucid mountain lake in the Alps, reflecting mirror-like, the heaven-aspiring peaks and the sentinel nines that fringe the tarn. A .quaint yet beautiful effect has been caught in "Cloud. Indian Ocean,” which might bp Kipling’s "Dawn Comes up Like’Thundpr.” The sketch of the Arab dliow—a ’minted ship irnon a painted ocean—i® . dpcnrativelv nicturesnue in idea/ and vivid in colouring, and the aonatint from the same subject, is equally as effective. There are lot.-, of other things to admire in this little show.