Eric Bransby facts for kids

Eric James Bransby (born October 25, 1916 – died September 23, 2020) was an American artist. He was well-known for painting large murals. He studied and created many murals in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Several of his famous works are at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Bransby also taught art at important universities. These included Yale University, Brigham Young University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Early Life and Family

Eric Bransby was born in October 1916 in Auburn, New York. His parents were Lillian Holland Dowsett Bransby and Charles Carson Bransby. He grew up first in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and then in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His father was from Manchester, England and grew up in Scotland. His mother was from New Zealand and grew up in London, England.

Eric was married to Mary Ann for almost 70 years. She was also an artist and a teacher. Mary Ann studied silversmithing and watercolor painting. Her teacher was the famous artist Thomas Hart Benton. Eric and Mary Ann got married in December 1941. Their daughter, Fredericka, was born in June 1943. The family moved back to Colorado Springs. This was because the climate was better for Fredericka's asthma. Mary Ann passed away in August 2011. Eric turned 100 years old in October 2016. He died in September 2020 at the age of 103.

Learning to Be an Artist

During the Great Depression, Eric Bransby studied art. He learned from Thomas Hart Benton in Kansas City. Eric painted his first mural for the Works Progress Administration. This was a government program that helped artists find work. After World War II, Bransby continued his studies. He used the G.I. Bill, which helped soldiers pay for college.

He studied at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center School. His wife Mary Ann also studied there. Both were students of Boardman Robinson. Later, Eric studied with Jean Charlot. Charlot helped him finish his college thesis. He also helped Eric paint the domed ceiling of Cossitt Hall at Colorado College in 1947. Other important muralists at the Fine Arts Center included Archie Musick and Ethel Magafan. In 1952, Eric studied at Yale University. There, he learned from the abstract artist Josef Albers.

Serving His Country

Eric Bransby served as a soldier in the Army. This was during World War II. His wife, Mary Ann, also helped with the war effort. She designed parts for B-52 bombers.

Teaching Art

After his studies, Eric Bransby became a teacher. He taught art at several universities. These included Yale University and Brigham Young University. He also taught at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. His wife, Mary Ann, also taught at Brigham Young University.

His Amazing Murals

Eric Bransby created many beautiful murals. Here are some of his notable works:

• Resilience (2012): This mural was made for the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. It celebrates the center's 75th anniversary. The mural shows the history of the center. It also features different art forms like dance, theater, and music. This large mural is 5 feet tall and 27 feet long. Eric painted it when he was 94 years old! He added his wife, Mary Ann, to the mural after she passed away. She is shown as a student of Boardman Robinson.
• Frescos (1986): Eric repainted these frescos over the front entrance of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He did this for the center's 50th anniversary. The original frescos were painted by Boardman Robinson in 1936. But they had faded over time. Eric skillfully added his own details to Robinson's original designs.
• Student Achievement (1986): This mural is located in Nichols Hall at Kansas State University. It shows the history of Nichols Hall. The mural was dedicated on October 10, 1986.
• History of Navigation (1968): The United States Air Force Planetarium asked Eric to create this mural. It is now on loan to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. This mural was made the year before humans landed on the moon. It is 30 feet long and shows the history of navigation. It goes from ancient times all the way up to space travel.
• Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Mural (1950s): Eric painted another mural on a wall at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Sadly, this mural was taken down during renovations in the 1970s.
• Legacy of St Paul (1986): This mural was made for St Paul Lutheran Church and Academy in Skokie, Illinois.