J.M. Macdonald Paintings

Jock Macdonald was a Scottish-born Canadian painter known for his influential role in the development of modernist painting in Canada during the 20th century. He was born James Williamson Galloway Macdonald on May 31, 1901, in Thurso, Scotland. Macdonald initially trained as a teacher and worked in this profession before moving to Canada in 1927, where he would ultimately transition to a career as a professional artist.

Macdonald began his Canadian sojourn in Vancouver, where he taught at the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, which later became the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. It was during this period that he became involved with the British Columbia arts scene and met other influential artists like Frederick Varley and Lawren Harris, who were members of the Group of Seven, a collective of Canadian landscape painters.

By the 1930s, Macdonald had begun to experiment with abstraction, influenced by his exposure to Eastern philosophy and art, as well as contemporary European art movements. In 1934, along with Varley and Harris, he founded the British Columbia College of Arts, which aimed to foster a modern approach to art education. Unfortunately, the school closed in 1935, but Macdonald continued to paint and exhibit his work.

During World War II, Macdonald served in the Canadian army, which interrupted his artistic career. After the war, he moved to Toronto and became a member of the Painters Eleven in 1953. This group was known for advocating abstract expressionism in Canada, and Macdonald played a key role in its activities. His work during this period was characterized by a move towards automatism and abstract expressionism, reflecting his continued interest in spirituality and the unconscious.

Macdonald's contributions to Canadian art were significant, and he was recognized with several accolades throughout his career, including the Order of Canada in 1973. He continued to teach and inspire younger generations of artists until his retirement. Jock Macdonald passed away on December 3, 1981, in Toronto, leaving behind a legacy as one of Canada's pioneering modernist painters.