Violin Player, 2001. Acrylic painting by Leonard (Len) James Gibbs (1929-2010)

Violin Player, 2001. Acrylic painting by Leonard (Len) James Gibbs (1929-2010)

Name/Title

Violin Player

Entry/Object ID

2001.02.21

Description

Painting This Realist painting portrays a slim young girl in a yellow/green top practicing the violin with intense concentration. It is a semi-frontal view from the waist up and she is depicted in front of a blank dark wall. Her face is the focal point of the painting, and she is focused on her playing, while reading music from pages on a stand in front of her. This could be a portrait, although the girl is not identified.

Artwork Details

Medium

Acrylic on board

Subject Place

Region

Cascades and Plateau

Continent

North America

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Leonard (Len) James Gibbs (1929-2010). Former UCBC Member Artist

Role

Painter

Date made

2001

Time Period

21st Century

Notes

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Born in Cranbrook, B.C., Leonard (Len) James Gibbs became one of the most important Realist artists of his generation portraying western Canadian life on the Prairies and the West Coast. After his Canadian naval service he went into advertising and eventually became the Creative Director and Vice President of a major Canadian agency. During these years he continued to pursue his fine art career and, in 1968 at the age of 39, he left the business world to devote himself full-time to painting. That same year Gibbs had his first solo exhibition at the Alex Fraser Gallery in Vancouver. It sold out on the first day. He later moved to Victoria with his family, where he spent the rest of his life. Gibbs was self-taught artist. He was known not only for his finely detailed artwork, but the heartfelt way his paintings reflected memories, emotions and the warm and gentle moments of everyday life. He was known for his paintings of children, cowboys and marine subjects. Gibbs was masterful in his use of acrylic, although he also created watercolour paintings and dry brush on paper as well as drawings. He exhibited across Canada, as well as in the United States, England, Denmark and China. He was one of the original artists at “Painters at Painter's Lodge" in Campbell River, B.C., an Honorary Alberta artist and was made an Honorary Citizen of Victoria, B.C. in 1985. He also built and flew his own airplane, built model railroads, and loved to drive classic sports cars.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Signature, Inscription

Location

Signed lower right: L. Gibbs Verso frame on dust seal in felt pen: "VIOLIN " MUSICIANS L GIBBS Plaque on glass lower centre

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Visible image

Height

27.9 cm

Width

47 cm

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Gift

Date

2001

Notes

Legacy collection Brass frame plaque: Donated to the Union Club of B.C. by LEN GIBBS June 2001 See artist's donation letter in file with title as " Violin Player"

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

By Leonard (Len) James: 2001.02.20 Sun-Bleached Log 2001.02.21 Violin Player