City Beauty Seen By English Artist

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 13

City Beauty Seen By English Artist

FAIRYLAND TRAMS AUCKLAND AT DUSK A young English artist at present visiting Auckland sees beauty in drab trams. Dusty streets become fairylands *of colour in a series of charming watercolours he has painted during his stay here. Leslie S. Taylor could find beauty in anything, but most of all he finds beauty in the evening when he looks along the streets of Auckland. He chooses those mystic few moments just after the street lamps are lighted and before the last of the sunset glow has left the sky. One of Mr. Taylor’s most charming pictures is looking down Queen Street from the Civic Square. The buildings are excellently drawn and the colour masses carefully balanced. The crowds of people and bustling trams give the picture a sense of activity rarely seen in the work of any artist. Another fine effort is a view of the city from the slopes of Mount Hobson with strong pine trees strongly etched against the sky. A night view down Vulcan Lane toward Queen Street is a splendid example of night shades and artificial light. Mr. Taylor seems to be happiest in his night pictures of streets. One painted from inside the entrance to the ferry wharves, with a crowd of passengers hurrying through bright light into shadow is admirably done. The young artist has also painted some attractive pictures from the top of Rangitoto. One is a view looking toward Auckland on a drowsy summer day. The harbour and the countryside are softened by the haze of heat, the whole making a charming study in soft tones.

• Altogether he has painted an unusual set of pictures. Auckland becomes another and more attractive city as he uses his brush in depicting uncommon views of the scenes which other artists pass by.