Emily Carr

Emily Carr

Emily Carr was born on a cloudy night December, 13th, 1871, in Victoria, British Colombia, and died March, 2nd, 1942. She was 73 years old. Her parents Emily and Richard Carr had 9 other children; Emily was the youngest out of the 9. In order they are Edith (Dede), Clara (Tallie), William, John, Thomas, Elizabeth (Lizzie), Richard (Dick), and of course Emily (Millie).

William, John, and Thomas died shortly after they were born. In the early 1890's when Emily just started adulthood her parents died. It was hard for Emily because was the youngest and said to be "the favourite". But because she was strong and believed that her parents were in a better place she was ok. As soon as her parents died she said that was was her real inspiration to become an artist. So Emily got foster parents, a few months later of persuading her foster parents finally gave her permission to let her go and study in San Francisco at the California School Of Design, and returned back 2 1/2 years later.

When Emily got back from San Francisco she set up some painting lessons for kids because she enjoyed working with them. She did that for 6 years. When she finally had enough money she cashed up her savings and set out to France to live with her sister, and to do some more studying in London.

Totem Walk at Sitka (emilycarr.org)

Emily Carr was influenced by two things called Fauvism and Impressionism. Fauvism is a group of artists which were formed in the early 20th century, whose work used strong color and emphasized painterly qualities. Impressionism was a 19th century art movement. It is used to emphasise light in its changing qualities. Emily Carr was also influenced to start her art career when her parents died, because as a kid she drew a lot of pictures and her parents always said that she was a good artist. So that was her real influence.

Emily Carr is my hero because I really think that she has changed the world a bit with her art, and I really love how she paints her art, because she uses so many different colours in one painting but it all blends in. I also think that Emily Carr is a good hero choice because she had gone through so much in life, like losing her parents and 3 siblings before she even got to know them. But she pulled through and that is why I think that she’s a good hero choice.