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The Life of a Landscape
Artist
Scenario Sheet 2: James Edward Hervy (J. E. H.) MacDonald
Description:
· J.E.H. Macdonald was a founding
member of the Group of Seven painters from Toronto.
· He first came to
the Rocky Mountains in 1924.
· He liked painting in the Rockies but
was nervous about being alone in the wilderness. He was especially nervous
about bears.
· He met Peter Whyte, who was very comfortable in the
wilderness. They became painting companions and friends.
· They would
pack their lunches and spend the day sketching and observing. Sometimes
after lunch they would sprawl out on the soft moss and "rest until we know
we shouldn't waste anymore time but back to the sketch box again" (Peter
Whyte to Catharine, 1926).
· MacDonald was a teacher at the Art School
in Toronto, but returned to the mountains to paint with Peter, and later
Catharine, every summer up until 1930.
· Catharine Whyte met MacDonald
after she married Peter in 1930. They all sketched together at Lake
O'Hara.
· MacDonald used to get up early and throw little pebbles at
the Whyte's cabin to wake them up because he wanted to get an early start
on sketching. It didn't matter how cold it was - he'd still go.
·
Peter and Catharine both learned about painting landscapes from MacDonald,
who encouraged them in their
work.
Quotes:
"He always carried
a heavy ulster (overcoat) folded over his arm and a collapsible umbrella
which he stuck in the ground. He sat on a rock on his ulster, with his
nose running all the time, made tea in a pail which he cached at Oesa and
Opabin… with stubby brushes worn down to the metal." -Dr. George Link on
J.E.H. MacDonald, 1979
"To paint from nature is to
realize one's sensations, not to copy what is before one." - J.E.H.
MacDonald, 1929
Possible Characters:
·
J.E.H. Macdonald
· Bears
· Peter Whyte
· Catharine Whyte
·
Art students and / or other art teachers
Messages:
· MacDonald was
an important Canadian artist who loved to paint the Rockies.
·
MacDonald became friends with Peter and Catharine Whyte.
· Peter and
Catharine learned more about landscape painting from
MacDonald.
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