Minnie Evans Famous Female African American Artist

Untitled work by Minnie Evans around 1940s-1950s

Minnie Evans Famous African American Artist

Minnie Evans (1892-1987)

Minnie Evans was a visionary African American Artist. Minnie was born at Long Creek, North Carolina. Minnie’s mother was only 13 years of age when she had Minnie. Her maternal grandmother looked after Minnie. Minnie began drawing at a young age and had nightly visions or dreams of Gods, Angels and Spirits and with these Angels, Gods and Spirits she travelled and saw wondrous and experienced these sights. These dreams became real to her. Her dreams led to a lack of sleep and consequently her school work suffered. Around 1918 she left school and began working as a domestic for Mr and Mrs Pembrock James at their beautiful Estate, Pembrock Park. Minnie still had her visionary experiences. Her first drawings were created from these experiences. These drawings inspired from these dreams are in the Collection of American Art. In the 1940’s She developed her drawings into themes and styles such as gods eyes. A popular feature in Minnie’s art is the symmetrical, organic creations.

20th Century Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) Abstract Expressionist

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)
‘Full Fathom Five’ 1947
Oil painting with nails, coins, buttons, cigarette and other objects on canvas.

Abstract Expressionism was known as action painting. This action of painting was considered as important as the final outcome of the painting. This abstract Expressionist style was the first American style to influence the world. Pollock was American born and became very successful and renown for his abstract paintings. ‘Blue Poles’ is one of his most famous artworks. ‘Blue Poles’ was originally titled Number 1 and was  painted in 1952. ‘Blue Poles’ was purchased by the Australian National Art Gallery in 1973 and is still exhibited at the Gallery in Canberra and is considered to be one of the major art pieces.
Pollock’s all over drip technique entangling light, shape, colour and his unique textures were extremely successful and a challenge to the cubism pictorial space art. Hi paintings are true to abstract expressionism and his talent impressive and unforgettable.

Frederick McCubbin Australia 1855-1917

DOWN ON HIS LUCK, 1889
oil on camvas.
Collection: The Art Gallery of Western Australia

This painting was created by McCubbin in the bush near the Box Hill Artists’ Camp on Houston’s property. 37 year old Louis Abrahams an unsuccessful gold digger and close friend of McCubbins modeled for this painting. Louis Abrahams took his own life in 1903.

Great Australian Impressionist Artist Frederick McCubbin

Frederick McCubbin self-portrait 1886

Frederick McCubbin (1855-1917) was born in Melbourne. His father was a baker and he was one of eight children. McCubbin was educated in Melbourne. In 1872 McCubbin began his art career studying at the School of Design, National Gallery of Victoria. It was at this gallery that he met Tom Roberts and started a friendship that was to last forever. McCubbin went on to study and exhibit at the Victorian Acadmey of Arts. In 1877 McCubbin and his friend Robers, as well as C.D. Richardson received instructions from Eugene von Guerard at the National Gallery of Victoria. During the 1870’s to the early 1880’s McCubbin created a few well recognized black and white paintings for the Australasian Sketcher and illustrated Australian news. McCubbin became a member of the Buonarotti Society in 1880. He continued to study at the National Gallery of Victoria.
He received great admiration and acclaim for his paintings. McCubbin began to paint plein air in the bushland around Melbourne. He had left behind his former art, subjects the city and nostalgic baker’s scenes. In 1884 McCubbin met Anne Moriaty at an artist picnic in Blackburm, who later became his wife.
Tom Roberts returned from a four yeat trip to Europe in 1885 and renewed his friendship with McCubbin. Roberts and McCubbin established an artist camp called the Box Hill Artists’ Camp in Houston’s paddock. Louis Abrahams and Arthur Streeton joined the artist’s camp.
In 1886 McCubbin was appointed Acting Master and instructor of the School of Design, National Gallery of Victoria. It was during this year that McCubbin and Robersts and other artists broke away from he Victorian Academy of Arts and formed the Australian Artists’ Association. McCubbin went on to produce, teach and exhibit many paintings and to become a famous Australian Artist and Drawing Master. McCubbin became ill with asthma and pneumonia in 1917 and produced his last major painting ‘Yarra River from Kensington Road’ or ‘The Lime Tree’.

Jane Sutherland a Great Inspiration ‘On the last tramp’

Jane Sutherland
On the last tramp (1888)
Oil on canvas board
Private collection, Western Australia

Famous Female Australian Impressionist Artist Jane Sutherland

Jane Sutherland (1853-1928). Sutherland created paintings that were exhibited alongside four famous male Australian Impressionist Artists Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbon, Charles Conder, and Arthur Streeton. These artist were recognized for their Australian Impressionism Art and have been exhibited in many exhibitions, books and public collections.
Sutherland created artwork that had similar qualities and interests although, her artwork was not considered to be as well recognized mainly due to the women’s social status. Women were restricted in their personal and working pursuits.
In the 1890s a women’s movement became well established and campaigned for equal rights and social reform. Australian women gained the right to vote between 1894 and 1908.
Sutherland pursued her professional art career. She studied at the National Gallery School and campainged with other female art students for equal rights for life drawing.
Sutherland’s career and professional exhibiting began in 1878. She was an active member and the first chairwoman of the Buonarotti Society that met regularly to promote literature, art, and music between 1883-1887. Sutherland was the first female to be elected for the Council of the Victorian Artist Society in 1900 . She was a professional art teacher and taught for nearly twenty years.
Sutherland excelled herself and became active in the plein air movement and developed an impressionist technique.
Sutherland’s paintings sold for relatively a lot less than her male colleagues although her artworks created were of of a similar quality and interests.
Around 1972 feminism caused a great interest of women’s work, exhibitions, publications, and this brought about the celebration of the achievements of Austrlain Women Artists as well as women artists of the past like Jane Sutherland.