One of the nicest comments I’ve had in a long time came this summer, when I was showing a little watercolour sketch featuring of one of our workshop participants. “Now I’ve been drawn by two artists” quipped Ann – “David Kearn and Arthur Lismer”!
I was, of course much honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as a stalwart of the Group of Seven, so I inquired: As a child, Ann was playing at the beach when her parents noticed someone doing a quick sketch of her. Introducing himself as Arthur Lismer, he handed them the resulting unsigned study – featuring a young Ann with an outsized piece of kelp!
Lismer was a keen observer of life and people, an accomplished draftsman with a keen sense of humor and humanity – you always feel his work is in the moment. He probably captured more of the informal moments than all the other members of the Group of Seven. Arthur Lismer had a lifelong passion for the arts and teaching. How many other unknown sketches like this must there be out there?
Thank you Ann!
Wow how very interesting!!
Your sketch of Ann is also very fresh and immediate, I knew immediately who it was when you showed us the watercolour
Very nice indeed Joanne
Hi Joanne, Really glad that you enjoyed the post… I often find that a little watercolour keeps things fresh!….David