It’s Day 138 and I’m trying to get my painting and chores done so that I can work on writing my new book.  There is a part of me that wishes I would just work on my books in progress, but I’m inspired by my new story and actually have a place that I’m submitting it to.  The other books are hard work and I don’t have any place specific I’m working on sending it into.  I did enjoy painting today so join me in celebrating Jack Bush today!

Jack Bush (20 March 1909 – 24 January 1977) (variant name John Hamilton Bush) was a Canadian abstract painter. His paintings are associated with the Color Field movement and Post-painterly Abstraction.

Bush was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1909. As a young man, he studied with Adam

Sheriff Scott and Edmond Dyonnet in Montreal, Quebec.

In his early stages, Bush was influenced by the work of Charles Comfort and the Group of Seven. During the 1930s, he ran a commercial art business and, by night, furthered his studies at the Ontario College of Art. Bush, like other Canadian artists of the time, was sheltered from major European influences. After seeing the work of the American Abstract Expressionists in New York City, Bush’s canvases changed dramatically.

Bush developed his work and approach to abstraction through the 1950s. He was a member of Painters Eleven, the group founded byWilliam Ronald in 1953 to promote abstract painting in Canada, and was soon encouraged in his art by the American art critic Clement Greenberg. Critical at first, Greenberg became a mentor to Bush and encouraged him to refine his palette, technique, and approach.

As a result of Greenberg’s guidance, Bush became closely tied to Color Field Painting. Bush became friends

with artists associated with color-field like Jules Olitski, Kenneth Noland and also Anthony Caro. As Painters Eleven disbanded in 1960, Bush moved on, and in the end became one of the more successful artists to come from this group.

Jack Bush represented Canada at the 1967 São Paulo Art Biennial, and in 1976 the Art Gallery of Ontario toured a large retrospective of his work. He died in Toronto 24 January 1977. His son Terry was an award winning jingle writer, best known for singing “Maybe Tomorrow”, the theme for the The Littlest Hobo.

Biography is from wikipedia.

There are no rules. (Jack Bush)

I hope you enjoy my piece today and I will see you tomorrow on Day 139!  Best, Linda