FAMOUS ARTIST BIRTHDAY, JACK SHADBOLT - BUTTERFLY, MINI MASTER SERIES

IN DAYLIGHT

IN FULL SPECTRUM LIGHT

NAPLES BUTTERFLY
PAINTING BY SEA DEAN
4" x 4" Mini Master on Canvas Panel
Homage to Famous Artists on their birthday

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.

Jack Shadbolt created a series of butterflies which caught my attention when I was researching this blog. I also painted a series of butterflies last summer and always intended following the series with another. Shadbolt's butterflies served as a reminder and also inspired me to consider what a butterfly looks like in motion. So here I was working on the impression of movement. I rather like the result. 

This painting is by no means intended to be a copy of Shadbolt's work, however, the colouring is similar, especially the Naples yellow background.This is a colour often used to add sunny highlights to a painting and I love the way it offsets the bright blues and reds.
 
JACK SHADBOLT

Jack Leonard Shadbolt was born 4th February, 1909 in Shoeburyness, Essex, England. He was brought to Canada at the age of three by his parents and was raised in Victoria, BC.

After graduation he took up teaching and worked in Duncan and Vancouver, BC. Early in his career, he traveled and studied Art in London and Paris. Later he trained under Frederick Varley at the Vancouver School of Art. Like many young men of his generation, Jack's life was disrupted by military service and during World War II, he became an official War artist. He took a sabbatical in 1948, choosing to spend time in New York City. Afterwards he  returned to the Vancouver School of Art as head of painting and drawing and taught there until 1966.

Jack was an artist, teacher, poet and author. He wrote three books and many articles, profoundly influencing Art and Artists in BC and across Canada. He authored In Search of Form (1968), Mind's I (1973) and Act of Art (1981).

An extraordinarily prolific artist, Jack Shadbolt worked in what he called suites, derived from his experience of nature, his understanding of calligraphy, op-art, poetry and architecture. Paint slashes, incisive lines, butterflies, totem poles, insect life and ritual brides, everything was transformed using emotion and intellect. As well as many murals (Edmonton International Airport, the NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE, the former CBC building and a plywood relief created for the MacMillan Bloedel building in Vancouver), he created stage and ballet costumes and theater posters. He continued to work at quite a pace until his death at the age of 89.

Jack Shadbolt died in Vancouver 22 November 1998


Cat # 14028 Naples Butterfly