Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30

HungeTIOfQ COmDS ana RueCH WcAoA,
both local artists Mrs. Combs studied
ut the Corcoran School of Art and Is MEM
Der of the leading local art organizations Mr..
Weisz is practically self-taught, and Is an IN
structor at the CorcOran School OF Art ana In
the art department of George washington
University. He began his career rs pupil IN
the former school, but made such rapid
progress that he was soon made an assistant,
and in a short time promoted to instructor
Mrs Combs shows % water cOlors. Mr..
weisz exhibits both oils and water colorS-
figures, landscape and marine subjects.
For the most part Mrs. Combs works are OF
still life, though she does include in this col
lection few landscapes, such as ION Corby's
Farm" and THE Stratton Home, Chevy Chase"
But it is in the painting of flowers and still
life that Mrs. Combs makes her largest con-
tribution. These are invariably colorful, well
composed, beautifully rendered. delight to
the eye, an endless source of enjoyment.
Mrs Combs handles her medium somewhat
in the method of the modern japanese, using
clear color in a rather fiat but crisp manner
Although flowers are the chief unit In her
compositions, her paintings are more than OF
flowers. Her backgrounds in each instance
are extremely interesting full of incident an
indispensable part of the composition; for ex-
ample THE Kimona Background" Japanese
Print and Roses" "Currier Print and Tulips"
No lover of flowers could fail to find delight
in these paintings, for in every instance they
seem to conserve not only the beauty but the
spirit of the fresh blossoms. And better than
the majority these paintings show how lovely
flowers may become indoors when given the
right environment
Art is by no means the imitation of nature.
the representation of things seen. 1t Is for
the artist to pick and choose to arrange and
to change, and then to translate beauty which
he she has not only perceived but helped
to create.
Mrs. Combs paintings are uncommonly large
for water colors, but not too large. And
while they are rendered with apparent ease,
they evidence mature skill and painstaking
care. Water color is elusive medium one
which permits fumbling the part of the
artist, and it Is seldom that one sees 1t used
as meticulOusly and broadly Mrs. Combs
uses it without loss of spOntaneity in effect
One could hardly praise too enthusiastically
these charming paintings.
MR.. WEISz's paintings are to be seen on the
A'A walls of the assembly rOom-oil paintings,
chiefly figures, on one side; smaller oils and
water colors, principally landscapes and out
door themes, on the opposite side. All are
strong, virile in rendering and indicative of
original talent; but probably the group of figures
and two of the landscapes will attract
most attention and measure most correctly the
artists capability These are all of striking in
terest, painted with a gravity betokening one
who reveres art, and with an evident pleasure
which manifestS senSitiveneSs to beauty.
Most finished. and perhaps engaging, is
double composition, figures of two young women,
"The Musicians" very unusual in its arrange
ment and manner of transcription, recalling
some of the great works of tradition but without
the objectionable inference of repetition.
A portrait study of "Biorn Egei" is strong
and forceful, a genuine Observation-Disclosures
faultlesS but significant, extremely well painted.
portrait of young boy which hangs between
THE Musicians" and the larger portrait is like
wise admirable, subtle in the rendering Of per-
oT1cix1 hint In
preston. These are all works of fine caliber
One landscape, for its beauty Of color as well
as composition, stands out from others shown.
It is entitled Mountain Heights" and has been
painted with full brush and apparently a
keen sense of the loneliness of nature.
Among the water colors are one or two done
at Gloucester, one of boat in early morning
seen with its dark reflection on the smooth
water, another of a group of Gloucester boats,
third of a fish wharf. These are quite as
strong as the works in oil, but just little less
accomplished.
Exhibitions of this sort give Washingtonians
an opportunity to gain acquaintance with the
works of local painters and help to engender
local pride.
A SECOND group of five paintings has been
lent by the Phillips Memorial Gallery to
the Public Library in continuation of the policy
announced some time ago of extending the
privileges VI the cohecUon beyond the gaueIy
itself These five paintings have been placed
on the wall in the art division, where they
take their place as decorations and at the same
time may be studied at leisure.
1t is an interesting and an unusual group
works by two Americans, Spaniard, one
Russian-American and one Frenchman, but
harmonious in color and spirit.
The Americans represented are Mahonrt
Young, perhaps better known as sculptor and
etcher than as painter, and Hayley Lever, who,
incidentally, is American only by adoption,
having been born in Adelaide South Australia,