Vera (Olivia) Weatherbie (1909-1977) was a Vancouver painter and one of the first graduates from the Vancouver School of Decorative Applied Art.[1] Weatherbie was known for her connections with the Group of Seven Painter, VSDAA faculty member, and co-founder of the British Columbia College of Arts, Frederick Varley.[2]
Vera Weatherbie | |
|---|---|
 Vera Weatherbie by John Vanderpant | |
| Born | Vera Olivia Weatherbie 1909 Vancouver |
| Died | 1977 |
| Education | Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Art , Royal Academy Art |
| Known for | Painting |
| Notable work | Portrait of F.H. Varley, Clam Diggers, and My-E-En |
| Movement | Modernism |
| Spouse | Harold Mortimer Lamb |
| Awards | Vancouver Exhibition Association Scholarship in Drawing and Painting |
Education
editWeatherbie was born in 1909 in Vancouver and went to Britannia Secondary School.[3]
Weatherbie attended the Vancouver School of Decorative Applied Art, now Emily Carr University of Art and Design, from 1925 to 1929 with fellow painter and friend Irene Hoffar Reid.[4]
Weatherbie continued her education in 1932-1933 completing post-graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Arts in London where she expanded her skill in diffused light, muted color, and fractured surfaces.[5] Upon her return from London, Weatherbie took a position as a painting instructor at the British Columbia College of Arts in Vancouver.[6] The school was founded by Frederick Varley, Jock Macdonald and Harry Täuberwas.[6] Weatherbie worked at the British Columbia College of Arts until it closed due to financial troubles in 1935.[6]
Impact on Artists
editWeatherbie was well known both as a model and muse for such artists as Frederick Varley and her spouse Harold Mortimer Lamb. Varley created a number of portraits of Weatherbie with one of his most celebrated paintings titled Vera (1931) becoming a part of the Masterpieces of Canadian art series postage stamps issued by Canada Post on May 6, 1994.[7]
While a student of Varley's at the School of Decorative and Applied Arts in Vancouver, Weatherbie was known for having taught Varley about auras. Harry Adaskin, a Canadian violinist and author, noted, "'Vera, who was involved in mystical speculation, taught Varley about auras: vibrations which surround all people revealing the true state of their emotions and spirit. These vibrations were depicted as colour by those spiritually ready to receive them."[8][9]
Reception
editAlthough Weatherbie has been considered underrated for her time, she did receive recognition for some of her work through awards and reception.[2][10] Weatherbie was applauded for Portrait of F.H. Varley (1930, oil on canvas and board, 99.0 cm x 85.0 cm) for her ability to capture her subject. Blodwen Davies of the Toronto Star Weekly on January 21, 1931 stated, "Miss Weatherbie has attempted to paint not only a keenly discerning study of the face of the artist, but she has invaded the world of metaphysics in a daring effort to commit to paint the immaterial qualities of personality."[2][10]
Personal life
editWeatherbie married Canadian artist Harold Mortimer Lamb on May 4, 1942.[4]
Weatherbie died at the age of sixty-seven in Burnaby, British Columbia.[6]
Exhibitions
editAwards
editReferences
edit- ^ Viola, Kaylia (2017). "Vera Weatherbie - More than a Muse". Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Vancouver Art Gallery. "Vera Olivia Weatherbie, Portrait of F H Varley". The Road to Utopia. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ Amos, Robert (2013). Harold Mortimer Lamb : the art lover. TouchWood Editions. ISBN 978-1771510196. OCLC 840251005.
- ^ a b c d e Richardson, Letia (1987). First Class - Four Graduates from the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, 1929. Vancouver, British Columbia: The Floating Curatorial Gallery Women in Focus. p. 43.
- ^ Varley, Frederick Horsman; Markham., Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery of (2007-01-01). F.H. Varley portraits into the light = mise en lumière des portraits. Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1550026757. OCLC 256536363.
- ^ a b c d MacDonald, Colin S. (1997). A dictionary of Canadian artists. Canadian Paperbacks. ISBN 0919554210. OCLC 777135054.
- ^ "Vera (detail), F.H. Varley, 1931 | Postage Stamp | Canada". www.canadianpostagestamps.ca. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ Brooker (1929-03-09). "The Seven Arts". Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ Jacques, Michelle (2021). article, Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Movement. Kleinburg, Ontario: McMichael Canadian Art Collection. p. 115. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b Davies, Blodwen (c. 2006) [21 January 1931, Toronto Star Weekly]. 75 Years of Collecting. Vancouver Art Gallery.
- ^ 75 Years of Collecting - Vera Olivia Weatherbie. Vancouver Art Gallery. c. 2006.
- ^ a b Lamb, Harold Mortimer. "Fonds - Harold Mortimer Lamb, Vera Weatherbie, and Molly Lamb Bobak fonds". Retrieved 2017-03-19.