top of page

OIL PAINTINGS

Seaman, Labourer, Artist, Manufacturer

Charles Macdonald's sensitivity to nature was grafted onto a steady series of small oil paintings, especially through the 1950's as he went into his eighties. If his watercolour and drawing practice dominated the first thirty years of his life, and his concrete community vision the next generation period then oil painting would be his leisure concentration during the last twenty years. He had been painting in this medium since at least 1918, when his pigments were earth tones with foiliage and water highlighted by an extensive but finely controlled silver-grey. However, he transposed the 19th century museum-tonal into the 20th century colouristic not much before he was fifty, although his works were rarely dated. One of the best examples of this is the picture Homestead Road , a favourite theme of Macdonald's and with a high-keyed treatment that does place him parallel to the American Impressionist group known as "The Ten" who were exhibiting in New York City at the end of the century when Macdonald was on hand. (Homestead Road resides in the permanent collection of The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia)

​

Patrick C Laurette for The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

ABOUT US

In his ninety-three years, Charles Macdonald was a sailor, a folk artist, a manufacturer ,and socialist. The Charles Macdonald House of Centreville Society celebrates the life and work of this exceptional Nova Scotian.

All images ©2022

LOCATION

Hours

June, Wednesday to Sunday 10 to 5

July and August, everyday 10 to 5

 

19 Saxon Street, Centreville

Nova Scotia, B0P 1J0

​

902-678-3177 

charlesmacdonaldsociety@gmail.com​

MORE INFO

novamuse_logo.png
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Thank you, Kings County Vision grant, Canada Cultural Spaces, Canadian Legacy Grant,

Nova Scotia Communities Culture and Heritage, 

Nova Scotia Summer Student Skill Incentive (SKILL), Canada Summer Jobs,

nsflag_bw.jpg
bottom of page