M. Bernard Loates
Encyclopedia
M. Bernard Loates is a Canadian artist, lithographer and publisher in the manner of the private press movement. The private press movement
refers to a printing press or publishing method that is artistic based, with great attention to detail as opposed to commercially based. The proprieter controls all elements of the publication, from concept, to design, to the final execution.
“Loates is recognized as one of the finest printing artisans...” Loates is best known in the United States for his M.Bernard Loates Edition of John James Audubon
, Birds of America. In Canada, Loates is best known for his work with A.J. Casson
, the last living member of the Group of Seven
.
Loates left school at the age of 14. He held several jobs before being employed by Atomic Energy of Canada, beginning as a file clerk and becoming the lead draughtsman by age 19. It was here that Loates’ illustrated his first book beginning a longlasting relationship with Publisher/Distributor Holt, Rinehart and Winston, as well as, Prentice Hall. Loates left Atomic Energy of Canada to become a publisher fulltime.
In 1977, Bernard published his first fine art book, The Art of Glen Loates. This was published as both an open edition or “trade” edition, as well as a limited edition with an enhanced format under the name Cerebrus Publishing. During this project Bernard worked with author, Paul Duval. This limited edition book was the first book that was published in the private press manner beginning in 1975 and was launched at the McMichael Conservation Collection of Art in Kleinberg, accompanied by a show of the artist’s work.
The founder Robert McMichael introduced Bernard to the Group of Seven art that would become his focus in publishing, as demonstrated in the books that were later published. Bernard and author Paul Duval worked on the next fine art book, The Tangled Garden: the Art of J.E.H. MacDonald, published in 1978. J. E. H. MacDonald
was the first member of the Group of Seven that Bernard published.
In 1979 A.J. Casson was the last surviving member of the Group of Seven. Bernard began a working relationship with Casson that would endure until his death in 1992. The first publication featuring Casson was Elora and Salem; Twenty Sketches released for a retail price of cdn$18,000. This was Bernard’s second publishing in the private press manner.
Bernard continued publishing programs with Glen Loates, A.J. Casson, Toni Onley
, and Walter J. Phillips
amongst others. The publishing programs were in three forms, single print limited editions, trade edition books and limited edition books.
Bernard’s work brought him to the attention of Pierre Trudeau
, and Bernard became a frequent guest to the Prime Minister’s residence and various balls where he was introduced to George H.W. Bush, Jean Chrétien
, amongst others.
In 1982, through the Prime Minister’s Office, a gift was made to the people of the United States by the people of Canada. Bernard Loates, the artist Glen Loates and Allan Gotlieb
, Canadian Ambassador to the United States, presented to Ronald Reagan
a painting of a bald eagle to commemorate the Year of the Eagle. The presentation was held in the Oval Office at the White House.
In 1983 Loates opened his print studio to other artists, publishing under the artist's own name/studio rather than his own branding. These included both limited edition books and prints, printed in much the same private press manner that Loates had developed. This also included some limited edition print publishing houses at the time, including Grenwich Workshop. By the end of 1986 Loates was forced to reduce his outside work when he began the Audubon project.
In 1987 Loates began the Audubon project. Exclusive to this project Loates designed a custom-made paper that he had produced by Manadnock Paper Mills, New Hampshire. It was watermarked “Bernard Loates Stallion Vellum”. Produced with continuous tone with no typical lithographic processes, as if “painted with a printing press”. The three M. Bernard Loates Audubon editions, Introduction, Tribute I and Tribute II earned Loates the recognition of Artist of the Year at the Wildlife Exposition in 1989. Loates was also honoured by the City of Mobile, Alabama when Mayor Arthur R. Outlaw presented a key to the city and declared September 21, 1988 as M. Bernard Loates day for “the Loates' process” “has created the finest ever produced by Audubon”. During this time Bernard toured the Southern United States as a guest speaker at selected universities.
In 1991 Loates began the octave edition of John James Audubon, Birds of America. This new project was offered for sale in 1992 and was not completed until 1995.
In 1996 once again Loates opened his print studio to other artists, printing limited edtions until early in 2000. Some of the artists published were Tony Bianco, Claudio D'Angelo, Michael Dumas, Robert Genn, Dwayne Harty, George McLean, Alan Wylie, Thomas Quinn and Rudi Stussi.
In 1999 Loates entered an agreement with Aboriginal Canadian artist Norval Morrisseau
also known as Copper Thunderbird, and the "Picasso of the North", to produce serigraphics. Due to health issues of Morrisseau, this edition was “signed in the plate” using the Cree syllabics for Copper Thunderbird.
In 2010, Loates introduced the White Volume Series™ highlighting upcoming Editions of the Group of Seven and their Contemporaries. The first release featured Lawren Harris
and previewed at the 11th Toronto International Art Fair during October 28 to November 21, 2010. The title is “Lawren Harris: Where the Universe Sings.” The full release is in 2011.
Loates has continued his painting career to this day, his work hangs in private collections both throughout North America and internationally.
On October 2, 2000 Loates remarried to Karen Somerville. They remain married to this day.
Open Editions are typically released through traditional book sellers. The size of this release is usually greater than 5,000 books and may be reprinted.
Limited Edition books
are released in far fewer numbers with enhanced features, and typically is not reprinted. The Limited Edition is sought by collectors as the more desirable edition.
Private press
Private press is a term used in the field of book collecting to describe a printing press operated as an artistic or craft-based endeavor, rather than as a purely commercial venture...
refers to a printing press or publishing method that is artistic based, with great attention to detail as opposed to commercially based. The proprieter controls all elements of the publication, from concept, to design, to the final execution.
“Loates is recognized as one of the finest printing artisans...” Loates is best known in the United States for his M.Bernard Loates Edition of John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
, Birds of America. In Canada, Loates is best known for his work with A.J. Casson
A. J. Casson
Alfred Joseph Casson, OC was a member of the Canadian group of painters known as the Group of Seven. He joined the group in 1926 at the invitation of Franklin Carmichael...
, the last living member of the Group of Seven
Group of Seven (artists)
The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
.
Early life
Loates was born in Toronto, a fraternal twin and the youngest of four boys. The family home was in Newtonbrook, a northern Toronto neighbourhood bordered by woods on the east side. Loates and his twin brother met Frederick Henry Brigden, founder of the Canadian Watercolourist Society, at his studio there. Brigden introduced Loates and his brother to the art of watercolours. At that young age they began painting as they explored the wooded area by Brigden’s studio.Loates left school at the age of 14. He held several jobs before being employed by Atomic Energy of Canada, beginning as a file clerk and becoming the lead draughtsman by age 19. It was here that Loates’ illustrated his first book beginning a longlasting relationship with Publisher/Distributor Holt, Rinehart and Winston, as well as, Prentice Hall. Loates left Atomic Energy of Canada to become a publisher fulltime.
Publishing career
Loates started Nature Impressions in 1968 and published three limited edition prints for his brother, nature artist M. Glen Loates. It wasn’t until 1975 that Bernard Loates published his first book under the name Cerebrus Press, Mammals in Profile, artist: Glen Loates. A followup volume was published in 1979.In 1977, Bernard published his first fine art book, The Art of Glen Loates. This was published as both an open edition or “trade” edition, as well as a limited edition with an enhanced format under the name Cerebrus Publishing. During this project Bernard worked with author, Paul Duval. This limited edition book was the first book that was published in the private press manner beginning in 1975 and was launched at the McMichael Conservation Collection of Art in Kleinberg, accompanied by a show of the artist’s work.
The founder Robert McMichael introduced Bernard to the Group of Seven art that would become his focus in publishing, as demonstrated in the books that were later published. Bernard and author Paul Duval worked on the next fine art book, The Tangled Garden: the Art of J.E.H. MacDonald, published in 1978. J. E. H. MacDonald
J. E. H. MacDonald
James Edward Hervey MacDonald was a member of the famous Group of Seven Canadian artists. He is the father of Thoreau MacDonald.-Life:...
was the first member of the Group of Seven that Bernard published.
In 1979 A.J. Casson was the last surviving member of the Group of Seven. Bernard began a working relationship with Casson that would endure until his death in 1992. The first publication featuring Casson was Elora and Salem; Twenty Sketches released for a retail price of cdn$18,000. This was Bernard’s second publishing in the private press manner.
Bernard continued publishing programs with Glen Loates, A.J. Casson, Toni Onley
Toni Onley
Toni Onley, OC was a Canadian landscape painter. Born in Douglas on the Isle of Man, he moved to Canada in 1948, and lived in Brantford, Ontario....
, and Walter J. Phillips
Walter J. Phillips
Walter Joseph Phillips was an English-born Canadian painter and woodcutter, acclaimed as one of Canada's most famous printmakers and for popularizing the colour woodcut in the style of the Japanese....
amongst others. The publishing programs were in three forms, single print limited editions, trade edition books and limited edition books.
Bernard’s work brought him to the attention of Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, and Bernard became a frequent guest to the Prime Minister’s residence and various balls where he was introduced to George H.W. Bush, Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, amongst others.
In 1982, through the Prime Minister’s Office, a gift was made to the people of the United States by the people of Canada. Bernard Loates, the artist Glen Loates and Allan Gotlieb
Allan Gotlieb
Allan Ezra Gotlieb, is a Canadian public servant and author.-Life and career:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gotlieb received his BA from the University of California at Berkeley, his MA from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and his LL.B degree from Harvard University, where he was editor of...
, Canadian Ambassador to the United States, presented to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
a painting of a bald eagle to commemorate the Year of the Eagle. The presentation was held in the Oval Office at the White House.
In 1983 Loates opened his print studio to other artists, publishing under the artist's own name/studio rather than his own branding. These included both limited edition books and prints, printed in much the same private press manner that Loates had developed. This also included some limited edition print publishing houses at the time, including Grenwich Workshop. By the end of 1986 Loates was forced to reduce his outside work when he began the Audubon project.
In 1987 Loates began the Audubon project. Exclusive to this project Loates designed a custom-made paper that he had produced by Manadnock Paper Mills, New Hampshire. It was watermarked “Bernard Loates Stallion Vellum”. Produced with continuous tone with no typical lithographic processes, as if “painted with a printing press”. The three M. Bernard Loates Audubon editions, Introduction, Tribute I and Tribute II earned Loates the recognition of Artist of the Year at the Wildlife Exposition in 1989. Loates was also honoured by the City of Mobile, Alabama when Mayor Arthur R. Outlaw presented a key to the city and declared September 21, 1988 as M. Bernard Loates day for “the Loates' process” “has created the finest ever produced by Audubon”. During this time Bernard toured the Southern United States as a guest speaker at selected universities.
In 1991 Loates began the octave edition of John James Audubon, Birds of America. This new project was offered for sale in 1992 and was not completed until 1995.
In 1996 once again Loates opened his print studio to other artists, printing limited edtions until early in 2000. Some of the artists published were Tony Bianco, Claudio D'Angelo, Michael Dumas, Robert Genn, Dwayne Harty, George McLean, Alan Wylie, Thomas Quinn and Rudi Stussi.
In 1999 Loates entered an agreement with Aboriginal Canadian artist Norval Morrisseau
Norval Morrisseau
Norval Morrisseau, CM , also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Aboriginal Canadian artist. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions, his existential...
also known as Copper Thunderbird, and the "Picasso of the North", to produce serigraphics. Due to health issues of Morrisseau, this edition was “signed in the plate” using the Cree syllabics for Copper Thunderbird.
In 2010, Loates introduced the White Volume Series™ highlighting upcoming Editions of the Group of Seven and their Contemporaries. The first release featured Lawren Harris
Lawren Harris
Lawren Stewart Harris, CC was a Canadian painter. He was born in Brantford, Ontario and is best known as a member the Group of Seven who pioneered a distinctly Canadian painting style in the early twentieth century. A. Y. Jackson has been quoted as saying that Harris provided the stimulus for the...
and previewed at the 11th Toronto International Art Fair during October 28 to November 21, 2010. The title is “Lawren Harris: Where the Universe Sings.” The full release is in 2011.
Art and photography career
Loates’ original oil entitled ‘Early Spring Eastern Bluebird’, painted expressly for the Wildlife Exposition and commissioned by the New York Audubon Society was also offered as a signed and numbered limited edition print. A portion of the sale of the prints went to benefit wildlife and environmental programs supported by the Society.Loates has continued his painting career to this day, his work hangs in private collections both throughout North America and internationally.
Personal life
While married to Lynda Veitch, Loates built his dream home which housed his family and growing business, including a lithographic press. Unfortunately, his wife was stricken with an aneurysm on January 6, 1985. Loates provided care for her in their home until shortly before her death on November 21, 1988.On October 2, 2000 Loates remarried to Karen Somerville. They remain married to this day.
Publications
All publications are on deposit with the National Library of Canada.Open Editions are typically released through traditional book sellers. The size of this release is usually greater than 5,000 books and may be reprinted.
Limited Edition books
Limited edition books
A limited edition book is a description of a book which is released in a limited print run quantity, usually much smaller than publishing industry standards, and connotes a level of scarcity or exclusivity...
are released in far fewer numbers with enhanced features, and typically is not reprinted. The Limited Edition is sought by collectors as the more desirable edition.
| Year | Format | Artist | Images/Author | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Limited Edition Prints | Glen Loates | Cardinal, Ruffed Grouse & Cougar | Limited only |
| 1975 | Mammals in Profile I & II (1979) | Glen Loates | Randolph Peterson | Open only |
| 1977 | The Art of Glen Loates | Glen Loates | Paul Duval | Limited and Open |
| 1978 | Norbert Nipkin | Steve Pilcher | Robert McConnell | Open only |
| 1978 | The Tangled Garden | J.E.H. MacDonald | Paul Duval | Open only |
| 1979 | Elora and Salem; Twenty Sketches | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1979 | Birds of North America | Glen Loates | Ross D. James | Open only |
| 1980 | Serigraphs | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1980 | A.J. Casson; A Tribute | A.J. Casson | Paul Duval | Limited and Open |
| 1980 | A Coming of Winter | Glen Loates | Ross D. James | Limited only |
| 1980 | Casson’s Casson I & II | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1981 | Walter J. Phillips; Complete Graphic Works | Walter J. Phillips | Roger Boulet | Limited only |
| 1981 | A Northern Suite I & II | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1981 | The Tranquility and the Turbulence | Walter J. Phillips | Roger Boulet | Open only |
| 1981 | A Silent Thunder | Toni Onley | Roger Boulet | Open only |
| 1982 | My Favourite Watercolours | A.J. Casson | Paul Duval | Limited and Open (1980) |
| 1982 | The Canadian Earth | Group of Seven & Tom Thomson | Roger Boulet | Open only |
| 1984 | A Brush with Life | Glen Loates | Glen Warner | Open only |
| 1987 | Audubon; Introduction | John James Audubon | M.Bernard Loates | Limited only |
| 1988 | Audubon; Tribute I | John James Audubon | M.Bernard Loates | Limited only |
| 1989 | Ontario Series; 6 Folios of 5 Original Lithos | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1989 | Audubon, Tribute II | John James Audubon | M.Bernard Loates | Limited only |
| 1990 | Platinum Edition, Folio I & II | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1990 | Regal Canvas Collection™, Omega Series | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1991 | Shapes and Contrasts | A.J. Casson | A.J. Casson | Limited only |
| 1999 | Norval Morrisseau, Copper Thunderbird | Norval Morrisseau | M.Bernard Loates | Limited only |
| 2010 | Lawren Harris; Where the Universe Sings | Lawren Harris | Paul Duval | Limited and Open |