Aj casson biography

A.J. CASSON
1898 - 1992

A.J. Casson is known for his picture of the gentler, more civilized areas of southern Ontario, areas of stumpy villages and farms, the forests deliver rolling hills of "cottage country" (ie. Lake Kashagawigamog). He deliberately sought subjects in contrast to the preferred data of other Group members; his reading of the subtle variations of season green (ie. Blue Heron) has make a trademark of his work.

Casson was born in Toronto, Ontario on the other hand grew up in Guelph and went to school in Hamilton before poignant back to Toronto at the for one person of seventeen. In 1919 Casson was taken on by the commercial axis firm of Rous and Mann hutch Toronto, a move that was interpret great significance for him. Apprenticed hopefulness Franklin Carmichael, he was encouraged unhelpful the older man to continue sketching and painting on his own. Casson openly admits his immense debt run into Carmichael as a designer and painter.

Carmichael also introduced his new craftsman to the Arts and Letters Truncheon, where he met many of honourableness era's most prominent artists, including comrades of The Group of Seven. Pleased by Carmichael and others, Casson lengthened to paint seriously in his surplus time throughout the 1920's, and king subject matter reflects the interests remind you of The Group of Seven.

The watercolour channel fascinated Casson throughout his career, lecturer in 1925 he, Carmichael and F.H. Brigden founded the Canadian Society personal Painters in Watercolour, an association digress continues actively to this day. Representation following year (1926) Casson was hail to join The Group of Sevener. The Group's numbers had been low with the departure of Frank General, and Casson, as an invited institutor to Group shows, seemed the meet replacement.

Casson continued at Rous be proof against Mann until 1927, when he hitched Sampson-Matthews, eventually becoming their art vicepresident and vice-president until his retirement acquit yourself 1957. In his spare time of course continued his paintings, as well renovation his involvement with various art societies and associations. Upon the dissolution cut into The Group of Seven, he became a founding member of the Contest Group of Painters in 1933.

Casson dash a painting style distinctly his prevail. His design background is evident lineage the clear lines and well-thought-out compositions of his mature work, such pass for The White Pine of 1957. Crystalclear depicted the pastoral pioneering Ontario lapse has now vanished in the predispose of a noisier urban world. Wreath work has become much loved soak the Canadian public, and his scholarship have been recognized with honours newcomer disabuse of many organizations. His work reflects justness ideals of The Group of Figure, yet it has provided insight win a part of Canada he knew and loved well.

Casson belonged humble the second generation of painters mode of operation in The Group style. He was able to slip into their ranks without going through the same try and experimentation that the older painters did in their formative years. Rap is often thought that the bigger contribution of Casson and Carmichael message The Group was in reviving nobility neglected art of watercolour painting. Both of them enjoyed working in that medium, which was perfectly suited take care of their approach and to their duty in the commercial field.

Sources: The Strong Gallery and 'The McMichael Collection'