Who was Emily Carr? Information on Canada's First Major Female Artist

Emily Carr is one of the most cherished Canadian artist and writer. Emily painted both the landscapes and native villages of Western Canada in a rather modern style that was rejected during the time of production. After traveling through the forests of British Columbia, her health faltered, which caused her to remain close to home where she wrote several books based on her life. Today, virtually every Canadian knows of Emily Carr.

However, I have met many people who are not from Canada that does not know of Emily Carr and I'd like to spread the word about this fabulous painter and writer.

Emily Carr was born in Victoria, British Columbia on December 13, 1871. Victoria, is a town on the southern point of Vancouver Island. Emily Carr grew out of a very strict upbringing with a defiant and rebellious nature that would shape her work throughout her life. As a teenager, her mother died in 1886, and strangely enough her father and older sister died in 1888. Carr lived on Vancouver Island for most of her life, but did however live in San Francisco for three years, attending the California School of Design in San Francisco.

After having spent her finances, she returned to Victoria. In 1899, Carr took up studies at the Westminster School of Art in London, and attended sketching classes in Cornwall as well. In 1910, she enrolled in the Academic Colarossi in Paris. There, she began to break away from her more traditional teachings. Yet, once she returned to Victoria, her work was unacceptable to many, and she gave up on art.

In 1927, Carr was invited to Ottawa for an exhibition and met Lawren Harris, who had a profound effect on her and her work. Inspired once again, Carr focused on the unique and vanishing Native culture and a powerful coastal nature. Many of her paintings are of dark forests, Native carvings such as totem poles, trees, wild storms, and endless skies. Instead of using the oil field sketch she devised a unique process of oil paint used with gasoline.

Carr began to write as well, and in 1927, she was encouraged to write about her life and experiences. Thus she took a course in journalism and produced Klee Wyck, The Book of Dmall, The House of All Sorts, Growing Pains, Pause, The Heart of a Peacock, and Hundreds and Thousands. Some say that her written works were often overlooked in favor of her paintings.

By 1938, Carr was confined to the bed, which limited her painting activities. In 1939, she experienced a stroke, and a heart attack in 1942. On March 2, 1845, she died of a final heart attack.

There are many pictures of a stocky Emily Carr sitting down with a good number of little dogs and even a monkey! One only has to look at a picture of Emily and recognize that she was quite a quirky woman who enjoyed having various creative outlets and most definitely was an animal lover. She is also thought to be Canada's first major female artist, and will forever be remembered by many.