Olive Biller facts for kids
Olive Allen Biller was a talented artist and illustrator. She was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England, on October 17, 1879. She later moved to Canada and passed away in Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 15, 1957.
Olive used two names for her artwork. Before she married, she was known as Olive Allen. After she married, she used the name Olive Allen Biller.
Becoming an Artist
Olive Biller began her art studies in October 1898. She went to the School of Architecture and Applied Art at University College, Liverpool. This school is now part of the University of Liverpool School of Architecture.
At Liverpool, she learned about design, illustration, and many types of arts and crafts. Her teachers included Robert Anning Bell. She was especially guided by Herbert MacNair.
In 1900, Olive moved to London. She first spent a short time at the Lambeth School of Art. Then, she went to the famous Slade School of Art. There, she studied with Henry Tonks. She even drew a funny picture of him, which is now at University College London.
Early Work and Style
Starting in 1901, Olive Allen became a busy illustrator. She drew pictures for magazines, children's books, and special Christmas annuals. Most of her work was for a publisher called T. C. & E. C. Jack. Some of her books were even translated into German and became very popular.
Her art style was similar to other British artists of her time. These artists were part of the Arts and Crafts movement. Famous artists like Walter Crane, Arthur Rackham, and Aubrey Beardsley also influenced her imaginative book illustrations. She also shared a funny style with women illustrators like Mabel Dearmer.
Life in Canada
In 1912, Olive moved to Canada. She married an old friend, John Biller, in Saskatchewan. John was building a farm in the Qu'Appelle Valley. After moving, Olive mostly stopped her commercial art work. However, she continued to draw and sketch her daily life in letters and sketchbooks.
Sadly, her husband died in World War I. In 1919, Olive and her two children moved to James Island. Later, in 1927, she moved to Victoria. There, she was an active member of the Island Arts and Crafts Society. This group was started by Josephine Crease.
In 1934, Olive moved to Vancouver. She continued her art studies there. She learned oil painting from artists like Jock Macdonald and Fred Varley. She also studied life drawing with Tonshek Ustinov. These classes were at the British Columbia College of Art. This art school was new and short-lived. It was created by artists who were not happy with the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts. That school is now known as Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Olive Biller's later paintings were mostly landscapes and everyday scenes. Her style was expressive and beautiful, similar to, but more gentle than, her contemporary Emily Carr. You can find her paintings and drawings in places like the BC Archives, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, University College London, and in private collections in Canada and the UK.
See also
- Canadian art
- List of Canadian artists
