Robert Genn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Genn
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Genn on location at Lake of the Woods, Ontario
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Robert Douglas Genn
May 15, 1936 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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| Died | May 27, 2014 (aged 78) |
| Known for | Painter |
Robert Douglas Genn (born May 15, 1936 – died May 27, 2014) was a famous Canadian artist. He was known for his unique style of landscape painting, which is a type of art that shows natural scenery. His work followed the traditions of Canadian landscape art. Robert Genn also created a popular website for artists. This website sent out newsletters twice a week to 135,000 artists around the world. In 2005, he led a fight against a Chinese website called arch-world.com. This website was illegally selling pictures of art from many artists without their permission. Robert Genn's efforts helped to stop some of these illegal sales.
Contents
Early Life and Art Journey
Robert Genn was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. His mother was from England, and his father was from Scotland. He studied art and design in different places. He went to Victoria College and the University of British Columbia. Later, in 1958, he studied at the Art Centre School in Los Angeles.
Painting Landscapes
Robert Genn loved to paint landscapes. He traveled and painted scenes from nature across Canada. He painted in places like British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. He also painted in New Mexico and parts of Western Europe.
He felt a connection to the Group of Seven, a famous Canadian art group from the 1920s. People often compared his work to theirs. In 1961, he met Lawren Harris, who was a neighbor in Vancouver. Harris was a member of the Group of Seven.
Genn once had trouble painting skies in his artwork. Harris gave him a helpful tip: turn the painting upside down! Harris suggested painting the clouds from the bottom of the picture. This advice helped Genn control how colors blended. It also allowed him to paint trees in a more abstract way.
Robert Genn often painted plein air, which means painting outdoors. He liked to set up his easel in the same spots where famous artists like J. E. H. MacDonald had painted before him, especially in the Canadian Rockies.
Connecting Artists Online
Robert Genn created and managed a website called Painter's Keys. This website became a large online community for artists worldwide. He worked with his staff and volunteers to run it.
The Painter's Keys Newsletter
The Painter's Keys website sent out a free newsletter two times a week. This newsletter reached 135,000 artists in over 100 countries. The website also had a huge collection of art quotes. It featured quotes from more than 5,382 different authors.
Genn also shared his "Ten Commandments of Art Pricing" on his website. These tips helped artists decide how to price their artwork. He advised artists to start with lower prices and increase them slowly. He also suggested keeping prices the same for all buyers and pricing art based on its size.
Fighting for Artists' Rights
In 2005, Robert Genn took on a big challenge. He led a campaign against a Chinese website called arch-world.com. This website was selling thousands of high-quality images of art illegally. They had pictures from about 2,800 artists without permission.
Taking Action
First, Genn tried to get help from the Canadian government and the Chinese embassy. When that didn't work, he used his Painter's Keys website. He asked his many subscribers to email their complaints to arch-world.com. Within days, over 1,000 artists, art dealers, and even politicians sent complaints.
This strong response led to a formal letter of protest. The Canadian Embassy in Beijing sent this letter to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. Robert Genn believed this campaign helped. Soon after, images from 800 Canadian artists were removed from the arch-world website. However, many of those artworks were put back on the site later.
Later Years and Legacy
Robert Genn was an important member of the board of directors at Emily Carr College of Art & Design. In 2006, a special art show displayed 16 of his paintings. These paintings were gathered from across Canada for the show at the Surrey Art Gallery.
On October 25, 2013, Robert Genn shared sad news in his newsletter. He announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away at his home in Surrey, British Columbia, on May 27, 2014. His daughter, Sara Genn, shared the news in the newsletter on May 30, 2014. A few months after he died, four art galleries across Canada held special shows to honor his work.
Books by Robert Genn
Robert Genn wrote three books during his life.
- In Praise of Painting (2012) is a book about his early life. It includes many illustrations.
- The Dreamway (1987) tells the story of a meeting he had with a spiritual guide.
- The Painter's Keys (2000) is a helpful guide for painters. It is based on one of his workshops about creativity.
Art Representation and Collections
Robert Genn's artwork is shown in 12 art galleries across Canada. He had solo art shows at several galleries, including Jenkins Showler Gallery and West End Gallery. He was also one of 60 senior members of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA).
His paintings are part of many important art collections. These include collections owned by companies and public institutions.
