Freda Pemberton-Smith facts for kids

Freda Pemberton-Smith (April 7, 1902 – February 8, 1991) was a talented Canadian artist. She was famous for painting landscapes (scenes of nature) and portraits (pictures of people). Her amazing artwork has been displayed in many exhibitions across Canada. You can find her paintings in private homes, public galleries, and company collections both in Canada and other countries.

Freda Pemberton-Smith's Life as an Artist

Born on April 7, 1902, Freda Pemberton-Smith had a very long art career. It lasted for about 80 years in the 20th century!

Her Art Education

Freda studied art at two important schools. First, she went to the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal in Montreal. Later, she studied in London, England, at the Slade School of Fine Art. One of her teachers in Montreal was Edmond Dyonnet. She learned from him for nine years. Other famous Canadian artists like Jack Bush and A.Y. Jackson also studied with him.

Early Career and Challenges

Freda's family agreed to let her become an artist. But they wanted her to earn a living from her art. In the 1930s, she started well in commercial art. This is art used for advertising or businesses. However, the Great Depression made it hard to find work. Her art career was also paused during World War II. She helped out overseas with the Red Cross.

Returning to Art

After the war, Freda started painting again. She also taught art for a while. Like many women artists of her time, she had many family duties. These duties took up a lot of her time. It was only after her mother passed away in 1956 that Freda could focus completely on her art.

Painting in Vankleek Hill

In 1965, she moved from Montreal to Vankleek Hill, Ontario. This is a town in the Ottawa Valley. She quickly became a well-known person there. People often saw her painting outdoors. She would put her paper on the ground and use a long-handled brush for her watercolour paintings.

Her Unique Art Style

Pemberton-Smith was known for her unique art style. It was called expressionistic. This means her art showed strong feelings and ideas. She used bold colours and was great at showing light, mood, and movement in her paintings.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Her artwork was shown in many solo exhibitions. These were at galleries like the Memorial University Gallery in Newfoundland. Other galleries included Dresdnere and Kaspar Gallery in Toronto. She also had shows at Wallacks, Robertson Galleries, and the Karsh-Masson Gallery in Ottawa.

Freda also took part in group shows. She was a member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour. Her art was shown at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. It was also displayed at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery and the Pastel Society of America.

What Critics Said About Her Art

Many art critics admired Freda Pemberton-Smith's work.

Early Reviews

In 1960, the Montreal Gazette newspaper wrote about her show. They said her paintings were "observant and vigorous." They also noted her smaller sketches were "hastily painted with passionate intensity." A large portrait called "Old Newfoundland" was praised for being "monumental and relaxed."

In 1962, Dorothy Pfeiffer from the Montreal Gazette said something special. She wrote that Freda's best work could "hang proudly in any gallery." This meant her art was as good as that of other famous artists. She added that Freda Pemberton-Smith's art was "immediately recognizable."

Later Praise

The Ottawa Journal reviewed her exhibition in 1965. They called her a "highly gifted artist." They said she was equally skilled at painting landscapes, seascapes, street scenes, and portraits. They called it a "first rate one-woman show."

In 1981, Marshall Webb wrote about her colours. He compared her palette to that of Cézanne, another famous painter. He noted "subtlety and warmth" in her reds, blues, and greens. He felt she created "universals we all understand."

The Ottawa Citizen described her work as "dynamic." This was for a special show called "Freda Pemberton-Smith, a Centennial Celebration." They said her watercolours were "vivid and full of movement." Her drawings had "bold, definite strokes." The newspaper felt her art showed "pent-up energy and vigour."

Media Coverage

Over the years, many articles about Freda appeared in newspapers. These included Le Droit, the Montreal Gazette, and the Ottawa Citizen. Her work was also talked about on CBC Radio. She appeared on TV shows like CJOH-TV’s Regional Contact and Rogers TV. Her art was even featured on Vision TV.