WATER COLOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1934, Page 11

WATER COLOURS

MR. T. CARRETT'S PICTURES

It is seldom that "Welliugtoniana have a chance of seeing such an interesting collection of water' colours as that which, was opened in the ''Evening Poat" buildings last night by Dr. A. D. Carbery. ' The artist is Mr. Tom. Gs-rrett, of Sydney, whose work is well known 'to all wfro take an' interest in contemporary art. V "'_:'. ';".."",:'. '

: Mr. Garrett, who is a Tasmauiari by; birth, adopted art as his. profession instead of the Church, as at one. time was intended.' He studied under* J. J. Hilder, perhaps the most notabli of' all Australia's water-colour artists-^ but he did not. become an imitator of his mentor, although perhaps Hilder'B influence can.be seen in some of his work, and he developed a style as distinctive as it is arresting. His work has been compared, to that of Corot, and'justly so. Mr. .Garrett is a landscape painter who excels in subtle atmospheric, effect, and whose colours are surpassingly soft and lovely, yet rich. All his compositions jaie invested with a poetic charriu he imay even be called a,romanticist, so vivid is his imagination. Yet if there is fantasy in his work, it is *a: thoroughly satisfying. fantasy, and'all his pictures are works: of art with, which, one could live wjtioievsr.a jarringiiote. Mr. Garrett studies his landscapes as a rule long, before he paints, them: he may ponder over Ms subject for weeks or even for months. Then, wltbamasterly technique, he creates a harmonious: composition of individual .charm.. .His subjects are diverse, with a-leaning perhaps towards trees.'and.water, and his true artist's eye sees-a picture in what many would pass by. One cannot point ■ to a landscape of his and say .that it ia a typically Australian scene; it is something much more than that, and. anyone at all interested in pictures should make a point of visiting this exhibition: which? is open daily fromJlO a.m. until*s p.m., and on Fridays until 9130 p.uu