BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Robert Johnston (also Johnson) Paterson

1922 -

groups

Paterson showed work in the B.C. Artists Christmas exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1933 and 1934.

The following information is from a hand-written letter by Paterson, sent in 1935 to the Vancouver Art Gallery regarding the sale of one of his drawings from the 1935 Christmas Exhibition. The letter is provided courtesy of the Vancouver Art Gallery Library.

      4179 Hudson Ave.
            Vancouver B.C.
                  Nov. 27th 1935.

      I am very glad to have your letter. It is keen that my picture is sold.

      I hope what I am going to write is all right for the buyer :-

      My age is thirteen and I was born in Vancouver. I am at Point Grey Junior High School, having gone there from David Lloyd George School last fall; I should have passed sooner but was sick for a long time.

      My school teachers have always been interested in my drawing and just now I am on posters.

      When I was eight the Hudson's Bay Co. gave me a first prize for a Safety First drawing contest and this year I had a prize for map drawing from the Daily Province.

      During the Christmas Exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery last year I sold a black and white drawing.

      The Saturday forenoon classes at the Art Gallery are splendid and I never miss going to them unless I happen to be sick.

      My Dad has also shown me how to mix colours and which ones to put against the others.

      I like drawing and painting better than anything else.

            With thanks,
                  Yours truly
                        Robert J. Paterson


GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1933 Dec. 1 - 17 VAG   B.C. Artists Christmas Exhibition A Modern Liner
1934 Dec. 4 - 16 VAG   B.C. Artists Christmas Exhibition Titan
1935 Nov. 22 - Dec. 8 VAG   B.C. Artists Christmas Exhibition Birds

References

Clippings

" ... Youngest of the exhibitors is 11-year-old Robert Johnson Paterson ... "
      From "Bargains in Art" by D.S.M.
      Vancouver Sun, December 1 1933

"No. 92 Birds by Robert Johnston Paterson"
      "Master Paterson was born in Vancouver 13 years ago and is a student at The Point Grey Junior High School. Has studied art at school and also in the Saturday Morning Classes at the Vancouver Art Gallery. At 8 years of age he won first prize for a "Safety First" drawing contest organized by the Hudsons Bay Co. He sold a Black and White drawing last year. Resides at 8179 Hudson Ave. Vancouver."
      From "Pictures Purchased From 1935 Christmas Exhibition by Mr. D.N. Hossie"


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