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Artist Study: Frank Johnston

By Zelia

  • Birth

    Birth
    Frank Johnston was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the late 1800's.
  • Period: to

    Artist Study: Frank Johnston

    Group of Seven Canadian Painter

  • Germany

    From 1904 to 1907, Frank Johnston studied art in Germany
    • exact date not provided

  • Studying in USA

    Studying in USA
    Haliburton River
    oil on canvas (24.5x33.5 in) 1918 Frank Johnston moved to the US to study art in Philadelphia.
    He also worked in New York City in commercial design (advertising).
    • exact date not known

  • The Guardian of the Gorge

    The Guardian of the Gorge
    101.3 x 76 cm
    gouache on illustration board
    Purchased 1918
    National Gallery of Canada (no. 1486)
    • exact date not known

  • Painting in the 1920s

    Painting in the 1920s
    Patterned HIllside
    oil painting He liked to paint with MacDonald and Harris but he was only a little influenced by the Group of Seven. But he liked to paint/mix tempura and play with pattern and texture in the subject of the painting like landscapes.
    - exact date not known

  • Fire Swept, Algoma

    Fire Swept, Algoma
    127.5 x 167.5 cm
    oil on canvas
    Purchased 1920
    National Gallery of Canada (no. 1694) Frank Johnston painted with MacDonald and Harris from the Group of Seven at Algoma. His style of painting during this time is a 'decorative interpretation of landscape'. As he continued to paint his paintings 'became more realistic and revealed a strong fascination with the qualities of light'. (http://pegasusgallery.ca/artist/Frank_Hans_Johnston.html)
    • exact date not known

  • Art Exhibit

    Art Exhibit
    Afternoon Shadows, Wyebridge
    oil on panel (18x22 inch) 1928 Frank Johnston was a member of the Group of Seven for a short time. His paintings were shown at the Group of Seven's first art exhibit in May 1920 at the Art Gallery of Toronto. He moved away from the group because he wanted to discover his own style of painting.
    • exact date not known

  • School Principal

    School Principal
    In 1921, Frank Johnston moved from Toronto to Winnepeg to be a principal at the Winnipeg School of Art.

  • Leaves Group of 7

    Leaves Group of 7
    Snowed In
    oil painting Frank Johnston lets everyone know that he is leaving the Group of Seven to have his own exhibitions.
    • exact date not known

  • Art College Principal

    Art College Principal
    Fickle March
    oil (20x24 in) 1928 Franz Johnston moved back to Toronto to become Principal of the Ontario College of Arts until 1929.
    • exact date not known

  • Changed Name

    Changed Name
    Frank Johnston changed his name to Franz Johnston. He began to find success with his paintings in 'commercial art galleries'. This is important because he wanted to show his own artistic style which was different from the group of seven. He didn't want to be associated with them anymore. He changed his name because he meet a numerologist who said he would have more success with Franz than with the name Frank.
    • exact date not known

  • Painting in the 1930's

    Painting in the 1930's
    Winter Stream
    oil on panel (20x24 in) 1933 Frank Johnston enjoyed looking at how light reflected on nature.
    - exact date not known

  • Commissioned to Paint

    Commissioned to Paint
    Mining Camp at Great Bear Lake
    Oil on Panel (12x16 in) 1939 In 1939 he was commissioned by the Eldorado Gold Mines to paint in the Great Bear Lake area. This is where 'he painted landscapes, trappers, miners and the northern aboriginal peoples' (http://www.canadianfinearts.com/canadian-masters/johnston-franz/)
    • exact date not known

  • Death

    Death
    He moved to Midland, Ontario and suffered a stoke soon after.
    Franz Johnston died in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1949. He is buried in the small cemetery on the McMichael gallery grounds.