Art Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 1, 31 March 1893, Page 12

Art Notes

(By Crayon.) The study of art, as an aid to culture and the intellectual development of man, is so generally recog’nised that the wonder is that so few take advantage of the opportunities for acquiring- this most fascinating accomplishment. Leaving altogether out of the question its aesthetic aspect, the ability to represent our ideas with facility and truth by means of the pencil must surely be regarded as a desirable acquisition* which becomes in the hands of the mechanic, as well as the professional man, a powerful and ever-ready agent. One of the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of the general study of drawing is the feeling in many minds that they must possess some special gift or faculty, blow, this is altogether a mistake. Anyone who can write, can draw, and although they may never become a Michael Angelo, or a Sir Joshua Reynolds, yet they will have mastered sufficient to afford them an unlimited amount of genuine pleasure. To how many is it true that the beauties of nature are as a sealed book. Of them it can be said that “ A primrose by tbc river’s brim A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing more.” And yet, to the humble student, who strives with pen and pencil to retain even a faint impression of the beauties that surround him, what infinite delights nature has for him in the contemplation of her various moods, her storms and calms ! In his wanderings by the seashore or under leafy boughs, she reveals herself to him in all her loveliness and power. To aid in some measure the spread of artistic knowledge among the young people of Invercargill, an Art Society has been started, and the success which has so far attended the efforts of the promoters is most gratifying. Between 30 and 40 students are now attending the classes, and the room is taxed to its full holdingcapacity. The committee are taking into serious consideration the holding of elementary classes, but as the affairs of the Society ax-e as yet in a somewhat inchoate state, this will require a little careful thought. The work up to the present has been principally from the “ model and “ still life.” An order has been sent to London for about 20 models, consisting of statuettes, busts, and groups of fruit. As far as possible copying work is discouraged, and the students are taught from the first to draw from real objects. By this means the hand and the eye receive simultaneous training. When the students gain a little more knowledge of light and shade, a life class and sketching club will be started. The Society has been fortunate in securing the services of Messrs Ho worth and MacGoun, and with such men at the head of affairs there is little fear for its future success. It is the intention of the Society to hold an exhibition about the end of the year, when the public will have the opportunity of judging in how far the institution merits their support.