Page:Woman in Art.djvu/207

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WOMAN IN ART

is strong and clear, the atmosphere mellow; this applies to her decorative work as well. A panel of "Wild Geese" is attractive because of naturalness.

Such an artist could not do less than build her home and studio on the heights overlooking the bay, as she has done. An artist she is, and the philanthropic instinct is hers also. She has arranged by will that her beautiful home and studio, after she has passed on, shall be preserved for the use of women students who may need a year or two of assistance to complete their studies. She wants the oncoming artists to realize that it is not their ambition alone to be benefited by culture, but they must work for the furtherance of native art.

Close analytical study of European Galleries strengthened her desire to be an American painter.

Rowena Meeks Abdy studied with Mr, Arthur J. Mathews of San Francisco Fine Arts School. Early in her career she received first premium for painting at the State Fair in Sacramento. Later she was awarded the first prize for water color painting at the Southwest Museum of Art in Los Angeles.

There has been a great demand in the west for her sets of water colors, "On the Ohio" and "Old California."

The Southland Has Given Us a Group of Artists

The seed-sowing of art in recent years has been on the principle of "broadcasting," if one may judge from the upspringing of artists in all sections of the country—and their influence and interest in establishing art schools and leagues, and from their individual work as seen at exhibitions from all points.

The south is adding profit and prophecy to its material achievements and successes. Many of the states are enthusiastic over results shown in the exhibitions of the Southern States Art League. In the art of the country they are to be reckoned with. Theirs is a most encouraging showing as to numbers and quality of work of both men and women, but here we can deal with only a few to represent woman's share in the technical and psychological viewpoint already reached.

Ella Sophonisba Hergesheimer is of the group of enthusiastic members of the Southern States Art League, her home being in Nashville for many years, though a native of Pennsylvania.

She has painted many attractive figure pictures; one of the most appealing and artistic is of her mother, which she called "Mother's Day." It is a beautiful reminder to anyone of "Mother." Seated in her easy chair, she has been reading a birthday letter, still in her hand, though her gaze is directed to the vase of

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