REDFERN, Charles Kinghorn
1919-1982
Born in Toronto, Ontario, he studied art at the Ontario College of Art and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts also with Wayman Adams, the Barnes Foundation and elsewhere. During his student years he won the Sir Joseph Flavelle Scholarship and the R.Y. Eaton Scholarship at the Ontario College of Art; The Cresson Travelling Scholarship and the Toppan Award at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In the early 40’s he served in the Army and directed the Canadian Army War Art Programme for enlisted personnel. Following his service his health broke down and his painting career was interrupted. After his recovery his output never reached its previous level. A portrait, figure, still life and landscape painter in oils and water colours his subject matter has been considerably enriched by his travels. Viewing his work in 1962 Paul Duval noted, More than 20 consumately executed paintings by Charles Redfern reveal a sustained standard that is rare in figurative art today. Redfern rarely shows his work in public. Part of the reason for this is his slow rate of production. Like the American Andrew Wyeth and other masters of high-realism, Redfern is a technical perfectionist. Furthermore, he works only from the model and this often limits his periods of painting to a few hours each day. His solo shows include: Picture Loan Society, Tor. (1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1962, 1966); Roberts Gallery, Tor. (1974); Madison Gallery, Tor. (1978).
Colin S. MacDonald
A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 (online only), by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker
National Gallery of Canada / Musée des beaux-arts du Canada