Canadian Art

June 3017 - Toronto ON

I spent some time at the AGO looking at Canadian art. My goodness, but we like to paint dark pieces with lots of cold weather!

There was a grouping of David Milne's works that I quite liked.

The AGO describes the section as:

The airy, light-filled space pays homage to David Milne’s passion for nature and preference to work in isolation.

“David Milne was one of Canada’s most recognizable and renowned painters, and has been highly influential in shaping the world of Canadian art,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, director and CEO of the AGO. “The David Milne Centre is a fitting way to preserve his legacy, and ensure that his work remains accessible for generations to come.”

Born in Bruce County, Ontario, David Milne (1882-1953) developed a unique artistic style, ranging from watercolour to oil and his innovative colour drypoint technique. A largely self-taught artist, and contemporary of the Group of Seven, Milne set out for New York City in 1903, exhibiting in the groundbreaking Armoury Show of 1913. Serving as a Canadian war artist in Britain, Belgium and northern France during WWI, he returned to upstate New York and cultivated his distinctive artistic style. In 1929, he returned to Canada, settling in rural Ontario. Following a year spent in Toronto, he spent the remainder of his life painting in relative seclusion, dividing his time between a cabin on the shores of Baptiste Lake and the small town of Uxbridge.

Pink Billboard

Another artist that caught my eye was William Kurelek.
William Kurelek (Wasyl), painter and writer, evangelist (b near Whitford, Alta 3 Mar 1927; d at Toronto 3 Nov 1977). Influenced by Bosch and Brueghel and by prairie roots, his Ukranian heritage and Roman Catholicism, Kurelek's realistic and symbolic paintings record his historic culture and religious vision. The oldest of 7 children, he was expected to help run the farm. His lack of mechanical aptitude attracted harsh criticism from his father, as did his wish to be an artist. He studied at Winnipeg, Toronto and San Miguel, Mexico.
Returning to Toronto, he was established by the early 1960s as an important painter, alternating realistic works depicting his prairie roots with didactic series.

1955 The Bachelor

1968  Reminiscences of Youth

Some close ups.

1972 Don Valley on a Grey Day