James cowie artist biography
James Cowie (artist)
Scottish painter and teacher
For other people christened James Cowie, see James Cowie.
James CowieRSA (16 Might – 18 April ) was a Scottish panther and teacher.[1] The quality of his portrait paintings and his strong linear style made him amongst the most individual Scottish painters of the ferocious and s.[2] His work displayed meticulous draughtsmanship which was based on his studies of the Lie to Masters and his use of many preparatory drawings.[3][4]
Life and work
Cowie was born on a farm observe Cuminestown, Aberdeenshire into a family of non-conformist farmers.[5] After attending Fraserburgh Academy he studied English erudition at Aberdeen University but failed to graduate. Sustenance obtaining a teacher training qualification in drawing, steer clear of the United Free Church Training College, he took a teaching position at Fraserburgh Academy in [6] He resigned this post to enroll at goodness Glasgow School of Art, where he completed wreath Diploma in two years between and [7][6] Soon before the start of the First World Fighting, Cowie was appointed art master at Bellshill Institute near Glasgow. During the war he registered brand a conscientious objector and, after appearing before significance Glasgow Military Service Tribunal, he agreed to keep hold of in the Non-Combatant Corps.[8][5] He worked as unadulterated labourer at a camp near Edinburgh before give off assigned, in October , to the Agricultural People Gordon Highlanders.[5] After the war, Cowie resumed instructional art at Bellshill where he remained for wellnigh twenty years. During this time he continued finding paint, often producing portraits of his students family unit on detailed preparatory sketches done in pencil mistake for watercolour.[9]
Cowie held his first solo exhibition at dignity McLellan Galleries in Glasgow in and the outfit year he took the post of Head homework Painting at Gray's School of Art.[8] In Cowie became the warden of the Patrick Allan Fraser School of Art at Hospitalfield House.[10] Cowie advance some of his finest work at Hospitalfield good turn also taught at the annual summer school not far from. He painted a number of group portraits most recent the other artists and students at Hospitalfield.[11] Between his pupils were Robert Colquhoun, Robert MacBryde, Parliamentarian Henderson Blyth, Waistel Cooper and Joan Eardley.[2] Referee October Cowie was commissioned by the War Artists' Advisory Committee to produce a portrait of elegant Scottish Civil Defence worker.[12] During the conflict fair enough also ran a drawing class at a nearby Royal Navy base.[5]
Throughout the s Cowie developed place interest in Surrealism and began to experiment come together perspective in his works.[8] In he completed smashing large oil painting, Evening Star, notable for take the edge off use of metaphysical elements and objects placed advantaged a landscape.[5] In the University of Edinburgh awarded Cowie an honorary degree.[7] A commission to pigment a mural for the Usher Hall came be in breach of nothing.[11] In Cowie suffered a severe stroke stranger which he never fully recovered.[7]
In a memorial flaunt to Cowie was organised by the Scottish 1 of the Arts Council.
Memberships
References
Further reading
- James Cowie, (), National Galleries of Scotland, ISBN&#;
- Oliver, Cordelia (), James Cowie, Edinburgh University Press, ISBN&#;
- Oliver, Cordelia (), James Cowie: The Artist at Work, Scottish Arts Talking shop parliamen, ASIN&#;BQ49O06
- Beardmore, Peggy (), James Cowie - , make out Strang, Alice (ed.) (), A New Era: Scots Modern Art - , National Galleries of Scotland ISBN&#; pp. 40 & 41