What do you think?
Rate this book
On the Curve: The Life and Art of Sybil Andrews
Sybil Andrews was one of Canada’s most prominent artists working throughout the late twentieth century. From a cottage by the sea in Campbell River, Andrews created striking linocut prints steeped in feeling and full of movement. Inspired by the working-class community that she lived in, her art is known for its honest depiction of ordinary people at work and play on Canada’s West Coast.
Although she was raised in Bury St Edmunds, England, On the Curve focuses on Andrews’ life after she immigrated to Canada in 1947. Settling in Campbell River, Andrews taught private art and music lessons and created artwork that gained her recognition across the globe. In the final years of her life, retrospective exhibitions of her prints in Canada and Britain skyrocketed her popularity. Prints of her artwork became even more valuable after her death in 1992. In this first fully illustrated biography, author Janet Nicol weaves together stories from Andrews’ letters, diaries and interviews from her former students and friends, creating a portrait of this determined, resilient and gifted British-Canadian artist. Andrews’ work is as popular today as it was in her lifetime and continues to celebrate the cultural, industrial, agricultural and natural world of Canada’s West Coast.
Although she was raised in Bury St Edmunds, England, On the Curve focuses on Andrews’ life after she immigrated to Canada in 1947. Settling in Campbell River, Andrews taught private art and music lessons and created artwork that gained her recognition across the globe. In the final years of her life, retrospective exhibitions of her prints in Canada and Britain skyrocketed her popularity. Prints of her artwork became even more valuable after her death in 1992. In this first fully illustrated biography, author Janet Nicol weaves together stories from Andrews’ letters, diaries and interviews from her former students and friends, creating a portrait of this determined, resilient and gifted British-Canadian artist. Andrews’ work is as popular today as it was in her lifetime and continues to celebrate the cultural, industrial, agricultural and natural world of Canada’s West Coast.
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2019
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 25, 2019
On the Curve is an enlightening book about Canadian artist Sybil Andrews. Sybil was daring for her time with a powerful distinctive style. She worked primarily in linocuts, producing striking bold prints full of movement and power.
The book is generously illustrated, and seeing so many prints -- almost half the pages contain reproductions of her work -- is impressive and striking. Each print is a swirl of geometric shapes and stunning colors. Subjects were often either sport (racehorses, football) or physical laborers (farmers, welders). I am so happy to have been introduced to this amazing artist through this book!
Here is a quote from Sybil:
"I did not, as so many do today, decide to make a living at Art -- there may be no living. It all grew just as a plant or tree grows, leaf by leaf, branch by branch, and a tree takes a life-time in its growing."
The book is generously illustrated, and seeing so many prints -- almost half the pages contain reproductions of her work -- is impressive and striking. Each print is a swirl of geometric shapes and stunning colors. Subjects were often either sport (racehorses, football) or physical laborers (farmers, welders). I am so happy to have been introduced to this amazing artist through this book!
Here is a quote from Sybil:
"I did not, as so many do today, decide to make a living at Art -- there may be no living. It all grew just as a plant or tree grows, leaf by leaf, branch by branch, and a tree takes a life-time in its growing."
Displaying 1 of 1 review