Artist Information
Artist
Sidney (Sid) Arnold Barron (1917-2006)Role
ArtistDate made
n.d.Time Period
20th CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born in Toronto, Sidney (Sid) Arnold Barron was a popular Canadian editorial cartoonist and artist. During his career, he drew for "The Victoria Daily Times", "The Toronto Star", "Maclean's" and "The Albertan". Barron's densely illustrated style often included a biplane with a trailing sign and a bored "puddy-tat" holding a sign. He often dealt with his subjects satirically and with wit rather than being directly political.
Barron grew up in Victoria and after graduating from high school, he worked as a sign painter and commercial illustrator during the Great Depression. At age 21, he took his first formal art classes from artist and designer Allan Edwards (1915-1991). During World War II, Barron worked in the Canadian comic book industry, producing comics for Canadian Heroes Comics. He also started to paint harbours, ships and beach scenes in watercolour and tempera.
In 1958 Barron started to produce editorial cartoons for "The Victoria Daily Times", and in 1961 after a Pierre Berton introduction, Barron moved east to begin a 30-year relationship with "The Toronto Star", as an alternate to cartoonist Duncan Macpherson (1924-1993). In 1962, he moved to Calgary to produce work for "The Albertan" while still selling pieces to "The Toronto Star". In 1964, he started selling cartoons to "Maclean's".
After the National Archives of Canada and the Glenbow Museum bought many of his original cartoons, he was able to retire and travel. He later moved to Vancouver Island, where he and his wife opened an art studio and gallery. He was a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
