Marion Nicoll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion Florence Nicol
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| Born |
Marion Florence MacKay
April 11, 1909 Calgary, Alberta
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| Died | March 6, 1985 (aged 75) Calgary, Alberta
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| Education | Ontario College of Art, Provincial Institute of Technology and Art, Central School of Arts and Crafts |
| Known for | Painter |
| Movement | Abstract Art |
| Spouse(s) |
Jim Nicoll
(m. 1940) |
Marion Florence Nicoll (born MacKay; April 11, 1909 – March 6, 1985) was an important Canadian painter. She is known as one of the very first artists to create abstract paintings in Alberta. In 1933, she became the first woman to teach at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art. Later, in 1977, Nicoll was the first woman artist from the Canadian Prairies to join the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
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About Marion Nicoll
Marion Nicoll was born in Calgary, Alberta. Her parents were immigrants; her father, Robert Mackay, was from Scotland, and her mother, Florence Gingras, had Irish and French family.
Her Early Art Education
When Marion was in high school, she started painting classes. She studied at St. Joseph's Convent in Red Deer from 1925 to 1926. After that, she went to the Ontario College of Art in Toronto (1927–1929). There, she learned from famous artists like John Alfsen and members of the Group of Seven, including Arthur Lismer and J.E.H. MacDonald.
Marion continued her art training at several places. She studied at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art in Calgary (1929–1932). She also went to the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, England (1937–1938). Later, she attended workshops at the Emma Lake Seminar in Regina (1957) and the Art Students League of New York in New York City (1957–1959).
Teaching Art
Marion Nicoll also shared her knowledge by teaching art. She taught at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art. She also taught at the University of Alberta and the Banff School of Fine Arts.
Her Artistic Journey
Marion Nicoll began her painting career by creating pictures of Alberta's beautiful landscapes. In the summer of 1946, she met Jock Macdonald at the Banff School of Fine Arts. He was another artist and teacher there.
Macdonald introduced her to a new way of painting called automatism. This is a style where artists create without planning, letting their hands move freely. This was a very important moment for Marion's art. For the next six years, she was the only artist in Alberta working in automatism. She made many paintings and drawings without thinking too much, filling stacks of sketchbooks.
In the 1950s, her art changed and became more abstract. This happened especially after she visited the Emma Lake Artist's Workshop in 1957. After this, Marion Nicoll stopped painting things exactly as they looked in real life.
Exploring Different Art Forms
Marion Nicoll was very creative and worked with many different art materials. Besides painting, she also did print-making, ceramics, and batiks. She even made jewelry.
Later Life and Legacy
Marion Nicoll lived in the Bowness area of Calgary. She was married to Jim Nicoll, an engineer who also enjoyed art. They met in 1933 and got married in 1940.
Many of her paintings are kept at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. There is also an art gallery named after her at the Alberta College of Art and Design.
In 1971, Marion Nicoll had to stop painting because of arthritis. This condition made it hard for her to use her hands. But she didn't stop making art! She found a new and easier way to create, which she called "clayprinting."
