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Girl on my Couch by Christopher Pratt

Artwork by Christopher Pratt, Girl on my Couch

Chris Pratt
Girl on my Couch

graphite
signed and dated “Jan. ‘84” lower right; titled on the reverse
11 x 20 ins ( 27.9 x 50.8 cms ) ( sight )

Price Realized $5,500.00
Sale date: August 3rd 2020

Provenance:
Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection, Calgary
Exhibited:
Christopher Pratt: A Retrospective, Vancouver Art Gallery, November 23, 1985 - January 26, 1986, travelling to the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, February 21 – April 20, 1986
Literature:
David Silcox and Meriké Weiler, Christopher Pratt, Toronto, 1982, page 64
Figural work plays a large and important role in Pratt's body of work. Often working with local young women—neighbours, aspiring models and friends— Pratt always endeavoured to give each subject their own sense of identity by way of visual representation. On his studio process working with models, the artist explains: “It is a real privilege, a luxury, to be able to work with girls who are not professional models. They have no preconceptions. It isn't really a studio relationship, an artist/model situation.” The simplified lines and graceful curves of the model are signatures of Pratt's drawing style. Elegant and refined, the line work of the composition lends to a feeling of calm repose and relaxation.

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Christopher Pratt
(1935 - 2022)

HighlightsWatch Artist

Christopher Pratt was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1935, but spent many boyhood summers in the Bay Roberts area where he now maintains a studio. He moved to New Brunswick in 1953 to attend Mount Allison University, trying several degree programs including biology and medicine. However, with the encouragement of instructors Alex Colville and Lawren Harris Jr. Pratt decided on fine arts.

It was at Mount Allison that he met Mary West. The couple married in 1957, then moved to Scotland where Pratt attended the Glasgow School of Art. Two years later, they returned to Mount Allison University, Sackville, where Pratt completed his fine arts degree. In 1961, Pratt accepted the position of curator at the newly opened Memorial University Art Gallery in St. John's. He remained at the gallery for two and a half years before deciding to concentrate on his painting full-time, moving his family to Salmonier, Newfoundland. Pratt has become one of Canada's best known and most respected artists, known for both meticulous serigraph prints and for powerfully evocative paintings.

In 1980, Pratt designed the Newfoundland flag. He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1983 and has a number of honorary degrees from Canadian universities. Three books about Pratt are: Christopher Pratt; The Prints of Christopher Pratt: 1958-1991 and Christopher Pratt: Personal Reflections on a Life in Art. These feature reproductions of many of his works. Pratt's work is part of private and public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; the Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University and the Vancouver Art Gallery.