The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-22
THE STUDIOS.
Miss Crocker and Miss Hooper.

At room number three in Clapp's block is
the studio CT Miss s. S. Croker and Miss M.
x. Hooper. The room is a veritable work.
shop. and so of interest to all whose love of art
is OF genuine strain and impels to an inquiry
into its methods. One cannot pass an hour
more proftably than in this studio studying
with high expectation the rare promise OF the
sketches and noting with delight their ripe
fultlment in the finished picture.
Miss Croker is an artist of whom one feels
justified in predicting great things. The sim
certify of her work strikes the observer at once.
She is singularly free, for young artist from
Indulgence in the arts of scene painter. She
has studied hard and mastered the technique of
her art. Her method is faultless, her expires
sion simply admirable. Recognizing that
there is no royal road to art more than to other
branches of knowledge, she has set herself to
work with royal will as true student should.
Her reward is in part already gained, and her
talent and industry command that recognition
which their united efforts should win. The
truthful and dignifed expression of her pic
lures, their breadth and vigorous handling,
their powerful light and shade, attract the at
tention of the spectator and compel long and
profitable study. The firmness and decision of
touch so apparent are not gained either at the
expense of delicacy and grace. Though evil
IDENTIFY quick to catch the feature of subject she
does not omit to caress picture, as the French
have ito bestow great care upon the finish
ing touches. All this applies particularly to
her work with pencil. Notable instances are
the strong and original head of an old man,
the head and shoulders of young man Ito
which the public seems to have decided to give
the name "An Athlete'') which was in the
New England Fair There is now upon her
easel portrait head strikingy illustrating
these qualities of her work "A face
in which the texture of the flesh is admira-
bly, rendered. Miss Crocker has done but little
in color of late though she is now engaged upon
portrait This picture is distinguished by the
excellent qualities of her other work, but the
flesh color is thin and transparent, apparently
wanting solidity. The only other work in the
studio from her brush is the remarkable half
length "a study" which was on exhibition at
the Fair this fall,-a picture noticeable for its
powerful and correct drawing. its light and
shade, and above all for its sentiment. 1t is to
careful and loving study of color as she has of |
other particulars of her art as decisive success
is within her reach.
Miss Minute x. Hooper, who is associated |
with Miss Crocker, is an artist whose patient
study, excellent method, and aptness 10 color
and composition, lead one to expect much when
her style becomes less prismatc and more in |
dividuslized. Her pictures are of rich prom
Use, and one must believe that high standing
in her profession awaits her. She has upon
her walls three pictures Of scenes among the |
mountains, drawn from the experiences of her
latest sketching tOur,-pctures noticeable for |
their delicate and refined treatment Two of |
Them are studies of the sombre cones of green
trees; the other Of the rich and suggestive |
Conway scenery. Miss Hooper has the faculty |
of easily yet strikingy conveying her Impress
ions, and is gifted with the painters eye; she |
does not have to throw poetry into picture |
and SO injure its truthfoluess. bnt she makes
apparent the poetry already 10 the scene and |
waiting but the artist touch to bring it to the |
notice of hasty and unobserving men.
Much of Miss Hoopers work is done on pot |
terry and porcelain, and it is very interesting.
One is pleased to see that she does not disdain |
to employ the material which has mmanded |
the attention of able artists, but which is too |
often sighted by those whose ambition is i'm |
measuraby greater than any possible perform |
ance Her success in decorative art is highly |
encouraging. The pottery from her brush, |
though conventional in design, is eminently |
pleasing in treatment and rich and satisfying
in color. On china she has done many beauti- |
full things. Her choice in symbol is felicitous, |
the decoration adding to the significance of the |
material, iostead Of, as is too often the case
subtracting from it. She has just finished an /
order for china set and great praise is given /
to the work, There are now to bs seen at
Hales pieces of china decorated with astsrs by |
her brush, and some atSchumacher's blazoned /
with wild foWers