Lillian Adamson: Habitat and Wildlife

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Lillian Adamson, "Habitat and Wildlife," 2019

"Habitat and Wildlife" Paintings by the late Lillian Adamson

Opening First Friday, October 4th, 5:30-9 PM

Lillian Adamson (1929-2019) Born in Alberta, Lillian’s early childhood was spent on a fairly remote homestead where the family was in close touch with nature, both wild and domestic. Riding horses, bird watching, and drawing were favourite activities. She was encouraged to imagine she could become an artist.

School years were spent in Ponoka Alberta where career hopes were changed to teaching then changed again after seeing that high school teaching was rather challenging. Her art endeavours were still encouraged so art school was next.

Art School at The Institute of Technology and Art, Calgary Alberta – during the heyday of Buck Kerr, oil painting, Luke Lindoe, sculpture, Stan Perrot, art history and watercolour painting, Stan Blodget, commercial art, Marion Nicol, design and composition – gave Lillian a well-rounded beginning in art training. Her focus there was commercial art with the intention of making a living and this notion proved successful during the years between graduation and marriage.

Paris; most of a year travelling in Europe concluded with four months auditing a painting course at Beaux-Arts in Paris. Other students accompanied her on tours of the galleries. On her return to Alberta, she taught illustration and fashion drawing at her alma mater, Calgary Tech., then returned to commercial art in Edmonton.

Marriage brought Lillian to Winnipeg where she continued to work in commercial art. Later, childcare proved to be even more demanding than commercial art deadlines so the commercial art career was dropped. A teaching career will coordinate with raising school-aged children so, over the course of seven years of part-time studies, a BA in education and then a teaching position was obtained.

School holidays were spent at Victoria Beach where there was time and plenty of subject matter for watercolour painting. Lots of photographs were taken in hopes of painting landscapes later. Meanwhile the year's pass, children grow up and leave home.

In retirement, Lillian worked in watercolours and acrylics, from nature or photographs. The subject matter was mostly landscapes, some birds or animals, anything to remind the viewer of the joys of outdoors and wildlife. Her work is representational and somewhat impressionistic. She enjoyed seeing the range of other artists, perhaps especially children’s art and the paintings of Tom Thompson.

Lillian was a member of the Manitoba Society of Artists. She found places to display and sell paintings locally.