Roland Gissing

Canadian [1895-1967]

Alberta Society of Artists

Roland Gissing was born in Willersey (County Worcester, England) in 1895. He came from a talented family: his grandfather was a published poet and author; his father and uncle prominent writers. Art was a favoured subject for young Roland during his school years, and drawing was a frequent pastime. It would be exposure to the “moving pictures” and their images of cowboy life and the wild frontier that became the catalyst that drew Gissing to Canada. 

After spending some time on a farm learning to ride, the young man arrived in Calgary in 1913, at the age of 18, and never looked back. He spent the next 10 years working at various ranches between Peace River and Mexico, though he continued to sketch and draw, mostly Western and Cowboy scenes.

When Gissing made the decision to become an artist in 1923, art in Alberta was at its dawn, and limited to visiting artists. Through R. L. Harvey (artist and then supervisor of Art Calgary Schools), Gissing was introduced to Leonard Richmond, a prominent British artist painting locally for the CPR. Richmond became Gissing’s instructor. As was the fashion at the time, Gissing was trained traditionally, and worked in the delicate mediums of pastel and watercolour. Interest in art, and the art community itself, grew between 1926 and 1929. 

During these early years, Gissing’s work impressed Ernie Richardson (manager of the Calgary Stampede & Exhibition), who granted the artist a one-man show. Gissing ultimately selected 52 of his favourite works for the show, which was held February 1929 at the Calgary Public Library in Central Park. The exhibit was received with such enthusiasm that a second exhibition was held later that year, by art dealer Jack Booth.

These early successes launched Roland Gissing’s career. At the onset of the 1930s, Gissing began to transition into oils, which he felt provided a greater colour scope and were less restrictive than pastels or watercolours. He experimented heavily with this new medium and his work visually transformed, over time, achieving his trademark style. 

Roland Gissing’s career would be long and prodigious, spanning an incredible six decades. Gissing became one of Alberta’s best recognized and most sought-after artists – truly “the people’s painter”. Through his scenes of mountains, ranchlands, harvests and rolling foothills Gissing developed the iconography of Alberta landscape art.

Literature: “Roland Gissing: The Peoples’ Painter”; Foran & Houlton, The University of Calgary Press; 1988.