In 1998, Canadian artists Gerrit Verstraete and Peter Leclerc founded the Drawing Society of Canada as a non-profit educational arts initiative. The society's primary objectives include the honouring of Canadian drawing masters, past and present, through recognition in the society's honourary membership, and an online presentation of these honourary members. Drawings and biographical material are featured in two online galleries. Honourary membership is by invitation and recommendation to the national Committee for the Induction of Honourary Members. The website also features a special document titled "100 Years of Canadian Drawing and beyond" listing all known Canadian artists, including the society's honourary members, who have made drawing their passion. Our continued research aims to discover all these artists and present them to Canadians and internationally to all who wish to learn more about the fine art of drawing in Canada.
In 2004, a new initiative was launched by the Drawing Society of Canada, namely the Canadian Academy of Drawing. The academy is an online course in classical instruction of figurative drawing based on the renowned publication "Drawing Course,' by Charles Bargue first published in Paris in 1860. The course had a major influence in French and English academies during the mid and late 1800's and into the 1900's. We are pleased to be part of a revival of this proven method of drawing instruction. The primary reason for offering the Canadian Academy of Drawing online, is a commitment by the founders to bring fine art drawing instruction to aspiring and established artists around the globe, but especially to remote communities where art instruction, studio sessions, and figurative drawing from the model, are not available. Students live throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and as far away as Singapore. One student lives in a tiny hamlet on the remote northern shore of Ireland, and yet others are from major metropolitan centres. We welcome them all.
In 2010, the National Gallery of Canadian Drawings was created to give more Canadian artists whose passion is drawing, a place to show some of their work, possibly en route to becoming a drawing master, or simply for the satisfaction of knowing good drawing is appreciated.
If you would like to read more about the Drawing Society of Canada and its founders, you are invited to view their respective websites:
Gerrit Verstraete, founder, Chief Curator - www.gverstraete.com / www.masterpeacegallery.com
Peter Leclerc - www.peterleclerc.com
Drawing Society of Canada - www.drawingsociety.com
Canadian Academy of Drawing - www.drawingsociety.com
Drawing Centres International - www.drawingcentresinternational.yolasite.com
