Professor Michael's Fantabulous Feature on Famous Folks 1

I've complained before (that seems to be common theme lately) that people don't know enough about Canada, and the people who have helped shape it many different ways. Well, there is little worse than a person who is all talk, and no action. Therefore I've decided to put my money where my mouth is, and started this little side section. So without further ado, let's begin.

Part 1 - Ted Harrison

When I was in elementary school, I was introduced to works of Ted Harrison when we studied the Canadian north. Harrison is famous for his use of bold vibrant colours, while also using simple shapes and imagery to create something beautiful.

Harrison is not actually born in Canada, but was in fact born in Durnham County, England, on August 28, 1926. As a youngster, his teachers recognized his art talents, and encouraged him to enroll in Art College, and in 1943 he was accepted at Hartlepole College of Art. Following a brief stint in the military during World War II, Harrison graduated with a Design Diploma in 1950, and began travelling the world with his family.

After years of travel, Harrison and his family settled in Carcross, Yukon, a small town near the Yukon's capital, Whitehorse. In 1969, Harrison had his first public art show in Whitehorse, and his career as one of Canada's greatest artists began.

Harrison painting in the Yukon.

Among his various scenic works, Harrison also did the art for some of Robert Service's great Yukon stories. My first exposure to his work was in the art for two of Service's stories, "The Cremation of Sam McGee", and "The Shooting of Dan McGrew". Both works are excellent showcase his excellent use of colour, and his northern influence.

Carcross, 1989

In 1987, Harrison was awarded the Order of Canada, by Governor General Jeanne Sauve, in honor of him helping to spread and promote Canadian culture. In 1991, he received an Honourary Doctorate from The University of Athabasca, then he received another one from The University of Victoria in 1998, and finally, he earned a distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Alberta in 2001. In 1993, Harrison moved to Victoria, British Columbia, a city he still lives in to this day. 

Snowcat, 1987

Orca, 1988

As you can see, his work is unlike any other. If you like this, I encourage you to check out his official site and see all that Ted Harrison has to offer. I hope you liked this feature, as I plan to do a few more of these in the near future.