Esther Paterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Esther Paterson
Born	1892 Carlton, Victoria, Australia
Died	1971
Nationality	Australian
Education	National Gallery Art School
Known for	Book illustration, Portraiture, Cartoon
Spouse(s)	George Hermon Gill

Esther Paterson Gill (born February 5, 1892 – died August 8, 1971) was a talented Australian artist. She was known for her amazing book illustrations and fun cartoons. She also painted many portraits of people.

Early Life and Art School

Esther Paterson was born in Carlton, Victoria, Australia. She was the second child of Hugh and Elizabeth Paterson, who had moved from Scotland. Her uncle, John Ford Paterson, was a famous landscape painter.

Esther grew up surrounded by artists and actors. Her neighbors were even the famous artists Annie and Frederick McCubbin. She started school at Oberwly School in St. Kilda. When she was thirteen, Esther began studying painting. She attended the National Gallery of Victoria School from 1907 to 1912.

Esther's Artistic Career

Silk and Lace, 1926, by William Beckwith McInnes. Esther Paterson posed for this painting.

Esther started publishing her drawings while she was still in school. Her work appeared in a magazine called The Woman in 1908. She also had cartoons in the Sydney Bulletin in 1912. This led to her drawings appearing regularly in other newspapers and magazines. These included Punch and the Argus. People even called her "Melbourne's Poster Girl" because her art was so popular.

Her first book of sketches, "Aussie Girls," came out in 1918. It showed her clever way of looking at life in Melbourne back then. Her second book, "'Me': a page from my diary," followed in 1919. Esther was good at both drawing and writing. This led her to work with famous writers like Ethel Turner and Mary Grant Bruce. Editors and publishers really admired her work.

Esther also wrote articles with her own drawings for magazines. These included Table Talk, Home, and the Weekly Times.

Working with Her Sister

Esther also helped her younger sister, Betty Paterson, become an artist. Betty had studied music, but Esther encouraged her drawing talent. Betty became known for her drawings of babies and children. She also became a cartoonist for Punch. The sisters even had art shows together. In 1922, the Prime Minister of Australia, Billy Hughes, opened one of their exhibitions. People said their art had a "frivolous quality of humour," meaning it was light and funny.

During World War II, Esther and Betty helped charities. They sold their pencil sketches at an event to support women artists.

Later Career and Recognition

Esther's work as an illustrator became even busier after she married George Hermon Gill. George was a writer for newspapers like the Melbourne Star and the Herald. Esther drew pictures for many of his articles.

You can see Esther's portraits of soldiers at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The National Gallery of Victoria and Geelong Art Gallery also have some of her artworks. In 1926, Esther posed in her wedding dress for a painting called Silk and Lace. This painting by William Beckwith McInnes won the famous Archibald Prize.

Esther was a very important member of the Victorian Artists Society. She was the longest-serving female leader in the society. She was also a big part of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors. In 1931, a review of her art show said her painting Battersea Park showed a "quick impression of sunlit grass."

In 1950, Esther received a special award from London. She became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). This showed that her art was known and respected not just in Australia, but also in England.

Exhibitions

• 1931, November 3 - December 17: A group art show with John Shirlow, Allan Jordan, and Charles Nuttall. This was held at the Fine Art Galleries in Melbourne.
• 1949, October: The 40th yearly exhibition of the Victorian Artists Society. This show took place at Tye's Gallery on Bourke Street.

Selected Works

Death and Legacy

Esther Paterson passed away on August 8, 1971, in Middle Park. She was cremated. Her husband, George Hermon Gill, died two years later. Esther left behind a wonderful collection of art and illustrations.