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Doris McCarthy
Doris McCarthy.jpg
Born
Doris Jean McCarthy

(1910-07-07)July 7, 1910
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Died November 25, 2010(2010-11-25) (aged 100)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation painter; teacher

Doris McCarthy (July 7, 1910 – November 25, 2010) was a famous Canadian artist. She was known for her amazing landscape paintings, especially her unique way of showing them. She often painted nature in a simplified, abstract style.

Life of a Canadian Artist

Doris McCarthy was born in Calgary, Alberta. She loved art from a young age. From 1926 to 1930, she studied at the Ontario College of Art. She was very good at art and won many scholarships and prizes there.

After finishing art school, Doris became a teacher. She taught art at Central Technical School in downtown Toronto. She worked there for a long time, from 1933 until she retired in 1972.

Painting the World and Canada

Doris spent most of her life living and working in Scarborough, which is now part of Toronto. But she also loved to travel! She visited many countries and painted their landscapes. Some of the places she explored included Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, Japan, India, England, and Ireland.

She was inspired by another famous Canadian artist, Lawren Harris. He taught her to simplify shapes and forms in her paintings. This helped her create her unique style.

However, Doris McCarthy is probably best known for her Canadian landscapes. She especially loved painting the Arctic and its huge icebergs. She started visiting the Arctic in 1972 and found endless inspiration there.

Even after a long career, Doris kept learning. In 1989, she earned a B.A. degree in English from the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Doris McCarthy's Art in Galleries

Doris McCarthy's artwork has been shown and collected all over Canada and in other countries. You can find her paintings in many important art galleries. These include the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

The University of Toronto Scarborough even has a gallery named after her. It's called The Doris McCarthy Gallery. This gallery proudly displays over 200 of her beautiful artworks. There is also a walking path called the Doris McCarthy Trail. It runs next to Bellamy Ravine and connects to Lake Ontario.

Her Lasting Impact

Doris McCarthy passed away on November 25, 2010. She left behind a wonderful collection of art. Her work continues to inspire people today.

Awards and Special Honours

Doris McCarthy received many special awards and honours during her life. These show how much her art and teaching were appreciated.

Some of her important awards include:

She also received honorary degrees from several universities. These included the University of Calgary, the University of Toronto, Trent University, the University of Alberta, and Nipissing University. She also received an honorary fellowship from the Ontario College of Art and Design.

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