- E. J. Hughes
Edward John Hughes, CM , OBC (
February 17 ,1913 –January 5 ,2007 ) was a Canadian artist.Hughes was born in
North Vancouver, British Columbia , and spent a significant part of his childood inNanaimo, British Columbia . Raised during the Depression he studied at the Vancouver School of Applied Art and Design where he graduated in 1933. His talent was recognized early, one of his teachers wasFrederick Varley of theGroup of Seven (artists) , and another member,Lawren Harris , recommended him for the inaugural Emily Carr Scholarship.In 1934 he formed a partnership with the muralist
Paul Goranson andOrville Fisher in a commercial art firm [ [http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/canadian/EJ-Hughes.html E.J. Hughes - The Art History Archive] , retrieved on May 16th 2007.] .Hughes died of
cardiac arrest in Duncan, BC at the age of 93. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2007/01/08/hughes-ej-obit.html B.C. painter E.J. Hughes dies] , by CBC Arts, www.cbc.ca, retrieved on May 15th 2007.]World War II
When
World War II began in 1939, he enlisted with theRoyal Canadian Artillery as a gunner and was posted toEngland . From 1943 to 1946, he served as one of Canada's official war artists. [ [http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/artwar/artists/ej-hughes_e.html Canadian Artist - E.J. Hughes] , www.warmuseum.ca, retrieved on May 15th 2007.] Hughes traveled to England and Alaska where he depicted concern for ordinary men caught up in the world wide event.Post-War period
After being discharged from the military in 1946 he returned to the west coast of Canada with his wife Fern and settled in
Shawnigan Lake onVancouver Island . Hughes spent much of the remainder of his life living on Vancouver Island where he pursued a lifelong study of the province and its landscape as a professional artist.In the 1950s Hughes reputation grew, especially after he began to be represented by
Max Stern , the owner of theDominion Gallery inMontreal . In 1954 he was one of 18 artists asked by theCanadian Pacific Railway to contribute murals for cars used on thetranscontinental railway . In 1992,Canada Post used one of his images on a stamp commemorating 125 years ofConfederation .Legacy
Hughes’ paintings are best known for their strong and appealing images of the landscape and seascape of
British Columbia .Jack Shadbolt described Hughes as "the most engaging intuitive painter of the BC landscape sinceEmily Carr ." His distinctive style of painting is marked by the use of flattened space, skewed perspective and simplified shapes. The paintings combine compelling clarity with a sense of the unknown and an appreciation for natural surroundings.Hughes was elected to the
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1968. Hughes was awarded with Honorary Doctorates from theUniversity of Victoria in 1994 and theEmily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 1997. [ [http://www.artists4kids.com/artists/hughes.php About the Artist] , www.artists4kids.com, retrieved on May 15th 2007]In 2001, he received the
Order of Canada and in 2005 he was awarded theOrder of British Columbia . Both of the latter awards cited his dedication to representing Canada with passion and originality.The
Vancouver Art Gallery has the most extensive holding of Hughes' work in public hands and mounted a major retrospective exhibition in 2003. [ [http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2003/01/31/30708.html Indepth Arts News: "E.J. Hughes: Work from the Early 1930s to Present"] , www.absolutearts.com, retrieved on May 15th 2007]His painting "Lake Okanagan" was purchased at a rural
Ontario yard sale for C$200. Six years later, in 2007, the purchaser sold it at auction for $402,500. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070515/K051506AU.html Painting found at yard sale slated to fetch over $100,000 for Ontario couple] , by Michelle McQuigge of Canadian Press, www.cbc.ca, retrieved on May 15th 2007] [ [http://www.heffel.com/new/links/news/2007_05_04.aspx Rare E.J. Hughes and Emily Carr Paintings to Sell in Upcoming Spring Auction] , News Release, www.heffel.com, May 4, 2007, retrieved on May 15th 2007.] [ [http://www.heffel.com/new/links/news/2007_05_24_01.aspx Heffel's $22.8-million Fine Art Auction Sets New Bench Mark as Best Canadian Auction] , News release, Heffel.com, May 24, 2007, retrieved on May 27, 2007]Books
" [http://dmbooks.com/product.aspx?ProductID=4302 A Journey with E.J. Hughes] ," By Jacques Barbeau, 2005 180-page hardcover, Douglas & McIntyreISBN 1553651537
External links
* [http://www.ejhughes.ca/ Official site] , retrieved on May 15, 2007.
References
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