The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-05
Otis ADAMS'S PICTURES.
Scenes in the NeighborhOod of Pic
turesque BrOOkviIIe Portrayed.

In no part OF the State is there more
beautiful scenery than along the White
water river in the vicinity of Laurel and
Brookville, and nowhere can an artist find
richer material for his work. The country
is hilly, but there are also extensive
stretches Of level areas as well as rolling
ground. with here and there streams that
make it extremely fertile region. Hence
Mr.. Otis Adams. artist whose pictures
are in the studio of the II. Lieber Com
pany this week, has not been Obliged to
go from home to find his subject matter
and has, in fact, painted some things from
his own dooryard. All of the pictures are
in oil and are Of medium size, with the
exception of several small ones, and, ex-
Guiding three flower studies, all are land
scapes. There is not a figure sketch in
the collection.
The scenes are laid in the. vicinity of
Brookville, and the large number of pic
lures show that Mr. Adams has done a
great amount of work since last year The
paintings, as whole, as compared with
those shown last winter. are lower In key
but richer in color, being, with but one or
two exceptions, strikingly subdued And
yet there is no monotony. The wonder is,
how an artist can get so much variety
i
tied a geogra phical area.
Mr.. Adams's pictures are more than any
thing else studies Of the seasons showing
what infinite variety of effect is possible
in the same scene by changing the time of
day or month in the year. In fact. so sue
cessfully has he done this that the un-
trained eye would scarcely detect the fact
/ that in one or two cases the scene is prac-
tically the same That the artist Is stu
dent of coloring as affected by seasons is
4 obvious in noting the names of his pic
I lures instance. .
May" "A Midsummer Day." Late Octo-
ber." "A May Morning" "A Misty Day in
| Winter"
In all of the paintings there is a remark
able richness Of color, and this, together
| with good composition. may be said to
! characterize the work of this Indiana
| artist.
! Because of the gloom necessary to a pic
ture of a rainy day, this is not a very
| popular subject with artists, but Mr.. Ad-
/ ans has portrayed such day and has
/ done IL well.
/ In most of the pictures Whitewater river
/ figures conspicuously, and in variety of
conditions. In one Of the best of these,
Morning the Whitewater the sun
/ light falling directly upon the water gives
that glazing effect so difficult Of reproduc-
ton In another. The Bracken Farm.
/ trayed on a placid summer day, on the
/ banks of a shallow stream. the farmhouse.
surrounded by a clump of trees. on the OPP
posite bank.
Then there is 1.-THE First Breath of Au-
I tumn." I'm the Embrace of Autumn" is
a study OF hills, with water in the fore
ground. Here there is wonderful depth of
/ color in the follage-clad hills that goes far
/ towards making the beauty of this pictur-
eSque region.
One Of the best pictures is The Closing
/ OF an Autumn Day" In this hills form
the background, while in the foreground
/ flows a deep stream with a strip of land
thick with vegetation extending with the
/ water. over the treetops the is in
4 blaze reflection
brown-tinted stream. This picture is es-
pecially fine in color. the rich autumn hues
/ predominating in everything. The artist
| has attempted a daring thing In pOrtraying
the sun unclouded, but successful has
/ he been that one almost feels the glare
| and dazzle of the light.
! Mr.. Adams is al his best in piece called
| THE Wane of Winter" in which he por-
| trays a bit of scenery along Whitewater
! river on a crisp. cold day after a thaw
/ The snow is In patches, but enough of il Is
along the bank 10 enhance the deep blue OF
the river. There is wonderful fidelity e
/ nature. While the pictures somber in
| tone. they are not gloomy in effect. and
! there is enough variety In color TO modify
| any tendency 10 monotony.
| There are three exquisite flower studies
two OF which are poppy fields. and the
brightness and daintyness of color show
/ that Mr.. Adams is not at all limited &C
| landscape painting. There are thirty pic
lures I'm the collection, several OF which
/ have been sold.
Owing To delay in the arrival of the pic
/ lures they viii be on exhibition all Of this
week. as well as Monday and Tuesday OF
| next.