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Eva Bradshaw

She taught evening classes at the Technical School for a number of years and never scorned beginners' efforts to paint or their appeals to her for instruction. When she died her small estate was left to provide awards for young art students of the city. She was the personification of generosity and often her figure studies represented her way of subsidizing members of a family in greater need than her own. She was a member of the committee which reorganized the Western Art League in the 1930's.

In her rich color, spontaneity, and strong brush work she showed her admiration of the American painter Robert Henri with whom she had studied. Eva Bradshaw was chiefly know for her paintings of Spring and Summer flowers, for studies of children and for a number of commissioned portraits. Three of her paintings were accepted for the first exhibition of Canadian Art at Wembly, England in 1923. She was not nationally recognized because she was rarely satisfied with her work and reluctant to send exhibitions works which she considered less than her best. Yet she exhibited regularly at the Western Fair and her paintings are cheery, prized possessions in many London homes.

"As being poor, yet giving riches unto many
As having nothing, yet possessing all things"

This quotation might be said to sum up the character of Eva Bradshaw. Yet her values were the values of a genuine artist. She was a happy person; she considered her life rich; and she was surrounded by a large circle of friends, among whom were her fellow artists and her pupils.


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