Evening star., 1935-05-05

Of perspective: the people that she
portrays not only take their place or
places in the picture, but are alive
and vital. Some of the scenes that
she has rendered are very complex,
as. for instance, a scene in THE Holy
City of Kairouan," where the streets,
swarming with people, and the bor-
dering buildings are dappled by flick
ering shadows cast by the foliage of
tall, leaf-toSsed trees. A side or rear
view Of the Cathedral Of Granada Is
also much-detailed study, the
cathedral itself, with its complicated
structure, serving as q background for
peasant venders passing with laden
carts and donkeys. In Tripoli," q
nocturne, "Old Church Of Taormina"
and Jerusalem Street" are all out
standing not only as compositions but
because of simple, mastery rendering.
No less interesting or notable, perhaps,
are IAN Oasis Of Algeria" "a Street
in Cairo" and "An Albian Market
Place"
All Of these pictures by Miss Custis
are painted in gouache-water color
mixed with Chinese white which gives
opaqueness and q quality somewhat
similar to oils. Hopkinson Smith, for
his charming water colors of Venice,
always employed gouache but In
lighter manner, leaving invariably
some Of the gray paper upon which
he painted uncovered. It Is not an
easy medium to handle and there are
few who have so entirely mastered
1t as has Miss Gusts. In q day of
careless draughtsmanship and clumsy
painting these pictures by Miss Gusts,
with their fresh color and competent
rendering are . particular delight.
Some will say that they are illustra-
tive. and so they are, but art has al
ways concerned itself with illustration
and 1t Is only when subjective interest
transcends that Of artistic effect that
it suffers therefrom
It may not be generally known that
Miss Gusts has done o very con-
siderable amount of illustration and
that in this field, too. she has won
distinction. The fact is that for
children's books and magazines alone
she has produced . great many pen
and ink drawings which compare
favorably with the best Of their kind
done by the well-known illustrators
of the 1906, the hey-day OF illustra-
ton in this country. Miss Custis
seems to draw, and draw correctly,
from instinct rs well as knowledge.
Her figures, like her architecture.
stand up, and what is more, are ex-
pressive Of action. They move. Es-
pecially fascinating Is one Of her IL
lustrations Of q gay basque party
published In John Martins Magazine
before It sank into the limbo Of de-
ceased publications. Miss Gusts has
also done numerous book jackets and
magazine covers, and she has now
and then made excursions into the
field of pictorial photography with
great success. Country Life recently
published Q series Of her photographs
made in Egypt, with notes by the
artist. Curiously enough, whereas in
her paintings, Miss Gusts gives great
attention to detail, In her photographs
she strives merely for broad, simple
effects. There Is no similarity between
the two. And with all this activity
Miss Custis has found time to serve
q treasurer Of the Warrington Water
Color Club and chairman Of the Exhi-
bition Committee of the Arts Club.
shy studied art ct the Corcoran School
and With Mr.. Smell. Warrington y