Together with J.E.H. Mac Donald and Franklin Carmichael, the four made a commitment to paint northern landscapes. Later, they joined A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston and Lawren Harris to form the Group of Seven.
As much as Varley liked landscapes, he had a desire to paint people, moods and situations. After a stint in France uring World War I, Varley returned hoping to produce a large-scale mural depicting the realities and atrocities of War. Lack of fundds doomed the project.
Disillusioned with Canada, only his portrait work persuaded him to stay. During the 1920s it was a trend within the elite to have personal portraits painted by up-and-coming artists.
Vera
One of his best portraits, the subject of this stamp,
was painted while Varley was in Vancouver. Entitled Vera,
the 61 x 50.8 cm oil on canvas, is housed at the National Gallery of
Canada, a 1968 bequest by Vincent Massey.
Vera Weatherbie was an 18-year-old student whom Varley met in 1927.
He painted this portrait in 1931. He used what was called the Munsell
colours system, with complementary tones and colours «to create
spheres reflecting the aura of the sitter».
Combining this with his interest in Eastern art and religion, Varley
developed a unique sense of spiritual values to colours. He equated
blue-green with the highest state of spirituality; emerald green with
purity; cobald blue with majesty and mystery; red with earthy and base
qualities.
Vera, with dominant greens modified with blues, reds and ochres,
is really two portraits in one. Notice how the left and right side of
Vera's facial expression differ. The right side with its warm ochres is
soft, vulnerable, almost pensive, as it moves to more complex mixtures of
green on the left, suggesting a daring, agressive personality.
National Film Board of Canada
Canadian Art at the McMichael - Girl in Red
The Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery
Malaspina
Red Rock and Snow
The Sunken Road
Well Known Canadians
J.M.Barnicke Gallery
Open Windon
Courage Remembered
The Sunken Road
For What?
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