Studio: international art (89.1925)

LIVERPOOL—BIRMINGHAM

LIVERPOOL—The rapid development
of Miss Guercio, who was until
recently a " star student" at Liverpool
School of Art is good to watch. A very
short time ago her extraordinary power in
pattern making was in advance of her
figure drawing. Now, as the present
illustration shows, her grip of figure com-
position is tightening and with it her power
of character suggestion. She appears to
have a mediaeval mind and also a mediaeval
precision infreehand drawing,and it is to the
credit of her instructors that they have let her
gifts have free play, and have not attempted
to paint a lily which is growing rapidly
in natural, unspoiled beauty. J. W. S.

ILLUSTRATION TO DE QUINCEY'S
"GERMAN TALES AND LEGENDS"
BY BEATRICE C. GUERCIO

(John Lane, The Bodley Head, Ltd.)

282

SILK SCARF IN BATIK
BY GRACE DIGBY

BIRMINGHAM.—The Javanese art of
pattern-dying on silk, known as
" Batik," has recently become popular,
owing largely to the brilliant colour effects
which are obtainable, frequently as the
result of happy accident. This accidental
quality may account for the numerous
rainbow-tinted scarves and shawls seen
everywhere ; often fearful and wonderful
creations. This is the Nemesis which
always attends an art imperfectly under-
stood and practised, and it should be
clearly realised that the very facility of the
process is its chief danger, and that unless
in the hands of a good designer and
colourist the results are apt to be appalling.