For many artists, drawing is an important component of their creativity. Drawing Conclusions presented 25 pieces by Canada’s most prominent contemporary artists and approximately 70 drawings by members of the Group of Seven, demonstrating the importance of freehand drawing in the training of artists throughout of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This exhibition provided a rare opportunity to view drawings that are seldom exhibited due to their sensitivity to light. Included were drawings that not only served as visual diaries and preparatory drawings for future large canvases, but also were often finished works in themselves. Thematically selected works – portraits, figure studies, design and calligraphy, war studies, caricatures, urban scenes, and landscapes – provided insight into the Group’s influences and the range of their drawing skills as a means of artistic expression.

Curated by McMichael’s Senior Curator Shelley Falconer and Assistant Curator Chris Finn