Comment by an Artist

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 473, 16 July 1948, Page 15

Comment by an Artist

HREE years ago The Listener printed an article by the Wellington artist "Barc" urging that New Zealand should come into line with Australia and provide a permanent travelling art scholarship. Now that this step has been taken "Barc" was asked to comment on the decision and on the conditions. These are her remarks, slightly condensed: "Well, to begin with, I am excited by the news. Though exchange will take a good bite out of the total, and fares cost a lot, it is a generous scholarship which ought to arouse the gratitude of the parents of all talented youngsters. Those youngsters must now address themselves to the education necessary for the winning of a one thousand pound scholarship. Though only one wins, all runnersup share the necessary education. "But there are other considerations too -the conditions, for example. At present little draughtsmanship is acquired in New Zealand. But draughtsmanship is taken for granted in Europe and in Australia. If a student has draughtsmanship from incessant training in a life class he or she can do any of all the branches of art; painting, engraving (which includes etching, wood engraving, line engraving), sculpture, fabric design, stained glass, mosaic, furniture design, and anything else there is. Draughtsmanship is the first requirement. From that achievement each student branches off in his desired direction. I would wish therefore that the conditions of the competition required draughtsmanship through incessant work in the life class. "The conditions of the painting competition conducted by the N.S.W. Government are these: (a) Three drawings from life, one nude and one draped figure showing hands and feet (not less than one quarter life size) and one drawing of two hands (life size). Size of paper 30in. by 22in. (b) One painting in oils, of a nude fi (not less than half life size) from life, Area of canvas must not be less than six square feet. (c) One figure composition in colour (not less than two figures); area of canvas not to be less than six square feet. The subject matter and the size of the figures are left to the discretion of the competitor; this composition may include two figures or two animals, or one figure and one animal "Such have been for 30 years the unchanged conditions of the New South Wales painting competition. Thirty years would have found them out if they had served the winner ill when he found himself overseas. "Visualise this Dominion’s procession of students in turn setting up their easels beside the New South Wales student, the Victorian student, the Queensland student, possibly some Canadian winners. Unless the New Zealander can draw he will be gravely embarrassed. Comments are passed quickly about | and are not quickly overtaken and refuted.

"Respectfully but urgently I say that there is only one person in this matter to be considered: the student himself. The winner must not be sent abroad to be poorly thought of nor to find that he, a scholarship winner of his country, is a nobody in the life class. "The student who wins the scholarship from New Zealand, should win it against as difficult conditions as the New South Wales student faces. We must not'set a lower standard than obtains in Sydney and London. . We personally don’t bear the stigma of a lower standard. Our travelling student does. Moreover, the conditions set the standard for work for the entire Dominion. "But we’re on the way. It’s a great start."