The times., 1899-10-15
The Art schools Open.

1t is quite too soon to give much def
mite news of winter plans and expecta7
tions. The art schools opened last week,
but the various art organizations will not
assemble for some time yet The lively
interest manifested on the part of pupils
augurs well. This, added to the renewed
health and wholesome yigor which each
returning artist shows as part of the bene-
fits derived from his long summer outing.
makes the situation full of promise.
The Water Color Club will probably
hold its annual exhibition in the month
of December, from November 27 to De-
cember 20 at the Society of Washington
Artists Gallery. This youngest of the
art organizations is very much alive and its
annual Offering is always looked forward
to with especial interest. The reason for
this popularity is easy to find for there is
a lightness, sparkle, ana sense of out
doors in water-color sketches, however
slightly executed, which is always attract
i've. These refreshing qualities appeal to
everybody alike. and make friends for this
medium where oil pictures require more
knowledge and deeper study. They must
be taken more seriously to be properly en-
joyed. To be sure, there are elaborately
painted water colors which must be con-
sidered as thoughtfuIly as complete oil
pictures, and oil sketches which remind
one of water colors but the sketch is the
special province of water color. 1t is for
certain spirited, brilliant qualities that the
water color is most esteemed
Character I'm Water COlOrs.
Almost every collective exhibit of water
colors obtains its character and tone from
these bright, crisp impressions of nature.
Nothing is too slight, If it is skillfully
done in water color, to merit prominent
place IN water color exhibition, while oil
sketches are not SO welcome, or SO promi-
nently placed in exhibitions where that
method is shown exclusively.
Water color shows, both in New York
and over the country, are far more popu-
lar with the public than the oil exhibitions.
People take the water color shows frankly
and cordially and enjoy them, while those
exhibitions devoted to oil paintings are
likely to be over serious and full of prob
lens in which the public has small in
terest While the critics and connoisseurs
are busy wrangling over the merits of
| these respective canvases, the public fiocks
to the water color shows and has a good
| time in the fresh outdoor atmosphere of
these bits Of paper made alive by clever
hands which recorded quickly impressions
| of nature Often these sketches were
made in the presence of the scene itself,
Or at all events. while the impression OF
| nature was still fresh and vivid in the
| artists mind.
| The Water Color Club counts many skill
| full and original painters among its mem
| bers, and always presents a creditabie dis
! play at It's annual exhibitions, but there
| is movement on foot TO obtain from New
York some twenty five or more picture.
by the leading metropolitan painters II
this medium and thereby provide an ex
| hibition that will be less local and NOR,
national in character. 1t Is believed by th'
exhibition managers that display OF worl
| by these leading American painters il
water color along with a good collection
of work by local artists, would do mucl
toward creating an active interest in Wash
ington art affairs and start the season OF
with something of a boom. Those VIII
have local art interests at heart reaIiZ
the desirability of something OF this kin
to arouse public enthusiasm and no effor
will be spared TO obtain the New Yorl
pictures.
The New York Pictures.
By New York pictures is not mean
something local merely. New York is
sort of clearing house for the America
artist, whether he reside in Paris or 81
Louis. The best American painters, wit
few exceptions, drift to New York soone
or later, and invariably, if belonging I
the first class, receive that splendid rewar
in fame and fortune which is perhaps de
MED them in their native town or State
This custom of importing examples OF tn
work of New York men for local exhibi
tions is very general. Many small cities
as we'll as the larger ones throughout tn
country, have art organizations that d
this Some times they have no local artist
of consequence, but the cultivated peopl
Of the town band themselves together
forming a society for the encouragement