A Dictionary of Canadian Artists™
A resource of biographies by Colin S. MacDonald

"The ultimate guide to Canadian Art" (MacLeans Magazine)

"tireless efforts ...one unique indivudual ... has toiled nearly half a century to record the history of the arts in Canada... [a] masterpeice...invaluable reference tools for curators, librarians, art dealers, collectors, teachers, and art lovers."
(Vernissage, National Gallery of Canada Newletter, August 2007)

"The support that this project has received from our patrons is a testament to the historic value that Canadian artists and their works bring to the national and international visual arts community"
(Marie Claire-Marin, President and CEO, Nation Gallery of Canada Foundation)

Volume 8 Part 1, Just Released $35

This series of books offer over 5000 biographies of living and dead Canadian visual artists and sculptors, with a reference list for further information on each artist. This book comes in 8 volumes totaling over 3000 pages. Writing these biographies became the life work of Colin S. MacDonald. He began this work in 1961. He is dedicated to Canadian art. This book is a perfect bridge between artists and fine art collectors. In July 2003, he was featured in Maclean's Magazine and is listed in both the Canadian and North American Who's Who.

Buy now online $172 per set + $18 (Shipping in Canada)= $190 per set
or call Canadian Paperback's Publishing Inc. at 613-722-1171.

Why is there another book on the market with almost the same title?

For many years, Colin MacDonald advertised his book in a prominent art dealer's magazine. Several years ago the art dealer produced a book with almost the same title as A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, and similar layout. The art dealer's book has a fraction of the biographies, with much less detail and no bibliographical sources of the information.

Colin MacDonald's "A Dictionary of Canadian Artists" is the the first and most detailed dictionary on Canadian living and dead artists. There is a bibliography at the end of each entry for sources of further research on each artist. The book can be purchased directly from this web site. Mr. MacDonald still packs and ships the books himself at 85 years old. This is a lifetime work. A labour of love.

National Gallery of Canada buys the copyright to A Dictionary of Canadian Artists™

In July 2007, Colin MacDonald at 83 years old sold his copyright for A Dictionary of Canadian Artists™ to the National Gallery of Canada. They are planning to continue the project and put it online. The hard copy of the books will continue to sell on this web site and at fine resellers across the country.

A text version of this MacLean's article is here

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