Studio: international art (90.1925)

MRS. GERTRUDE MASSEY'S WATER-COLOURS

reproductions given herewith the reasons and giving very close attention to the

for this success will not be far to seek, and flow of line and the distribution of mass

those who are in London will have an she secures her decorative effect and at

opportunity of seeing a collection of the the same time gives a felicitous impression

originals at the Graham Gallery from of nature. In her treatment of foliage,

December 7th to 19th next. 0 a especially when working in oil, she seems

Of the two principal methods of hand- to have travelled some way along the road
ling water-colours it will be at once seen which the new Canadian school have
that Mrs. Massey follows the constructive made peculiarly their own, but she has
rather than that of broad washes. For wisely not allowed the feeling for solidity
works of these small dimensions (our to lead her to over-conventionalising. For
colour-plate, which is the exact size of her colour there is only one word, and that
the original, is about the average) there a cliche, but it must be used nevertheless,
can be but little doubt that this is the best and we will say boldly that Mrs. Massey's
way of approach when the purpose of scheme is u joyous." For the most part
decoration is kept in view, and it is with she employs only five or six colours, and,
this purpose that the artist builds up her managing them with exquisite taste, pro-
compositions. Decorative they are, in duces an effect of gaiety and optimism,
the best sense of the term, and especially Subject matters little in this instance, and
suited to the modern small home with its many of these small drawings dignify a
plain walls, but they also have " the little wholly insignificant prospect by their
more " which raises a drawing out of the skill in composition and their invariable
category of the mere tour de force and charm of colour ; though the preference
makes it a work of art. a 0 a seems to be for old French villages, often

Mrs. Massey, avoiding a niggling seen under reflected rather than direct light,

exactitude, yet conserves a wholesome Mrs. Massey's art would seem to be

respect for the shapes and volumes of well adapted for translation into the

things as they appear in nature. By colour woodcut, and perhaps we may see

seizing the pictorial essentials of a scene, some essays in this kind at a future date.

" GUIBRAY." WATER-COLOUR
BY GERTRUDE MASSEY

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