DOMINION PRAISED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 13

DOMINION PRAISED

Noted ArtistY Views on Attractions N.Z. SCENES PAINTED LONDON, Nov. 13. "Perfectly lovely rivers," pohutukawa trees, inland waters near Mahurangi Heads, and views on the Auckland and Wellington harbours are the most vivid artistie impressions carried away from New Zealand by Mr J. S. Lamorna Birch, E.A., the noted painter, who has just returned to England. In other directions he was most iinpressed by the splendid trout fishing in the Taupo district and by the unbounded hospitality of New Zealanders. Mr Birch said New Zealand was a wonderful landseape coventry and it would be worth any painter's time to visit it. He had not experienced the dif&culty he had expeeted in adapting his technique to the clearer air of the Dominion. The brightness of the midday sun made painting a little difficult as it seemed to turn all colours black, but in the morning and late afternoons no such trouble was experienced. 'He spoke highly of the artistie work that was being done in New Zealand. The younger painters espeeially showed great keenness and ability. Since he left New Zealand Mr Birch has completed several more paintings on Dominion subjects. The largest is an oil painting of a scene on the Clutha Biver, which he considers one of the most serious works he attempted on his loflr. He has also done an oil painting of Ha'ni urana Springs and several Water-colour drawings. Most of these, as well as paintings completed in New Zealand, will be sliown at the exhibition of his New Zealand work at tne Greatorex Galleries, London, to be opened by Viscount Bledisloe, but he does not propose to submit any -of theijj to the Academy. He plans, however, to paint one, or possibly two, pietures from studies he made in New Zealand, for submission to the Academy.