James Lumbers " Moments in Time"

After graduating from the Ontario College of Art, Lumbers work for many years as an industrial designer.  However he did not start to paint until 1973 when an opportunity came to travel to the far north to paint polar bears in their natural habitat around Hudson Bay.  Over a 10-year period, subject matter expanded to documenting Native Peoples of the north.

In 1973 Lumbers was elected a fellow of the Explorers Club of New York and he also became a member of Society of Animal Artist of New York.  He has be documented in Who's Who  in American Art and a Dictionary of International Biographies in the UK.

By the late 70's Lumbers was recognized as one of Canada's foremost realists Painters.  He ahs had numerous exhibitions in Canada and the United States.  Also recognized as a portrait painter, Lumbers has painted some of the worlds great Sports Heroes, Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretsky and Joe Montana.  He also did portraits of John Diefenbaker, Chief Dan George, Sir Edmund Hillary and Andrew Davis with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as many others from all walks of life.

The Style of painting that brought international recognition to Lumbers all started on a summer afternoon in 1976.  After sketching an abandoned house on an island in Georgian Bay he found a diary and some photo negatives.  Months later he printed some of the negatives, which related to the writing in the diary and discovered that the people in the photos were posing on the same porch in 1913. It seemed logical to paint the porch of today with he memories of so long ago.  Now most of his work sells out in the form of Litho prints and Giclees.  Lumbers favourite painting medium is acrylic on board.  It lends itself so well to his technique.

He has developed a strong sense of history and this is reflected in much of his work.  "we are products of our memories and traditions.  We must fight in our own way to preserve what we have."  Lumbers has contributed time and supported many charities over the years.  He has appeared on many TV and radio shows and numerous newspaper a d magazine articles have been written about him.

Now a household name in Canada, Lumbers work can be found in collections around the world. A book of his work was published representing his paintings up to the end of 1993.  There may be a sequel in the future.

Info sheet provided by miroarts publishing inc.

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