Kenneth William David Jack AM MBE RWS, (5 October 1924 – 10 June 2006) was an Australian watercolour artist who specialised in painting the images of an almost forgotten outback life: old mine workings, ghost towns, decaying farm buildings.
Family The son of Harold James Jack (1901–1977), and Ethel Gertrude Jack (1892–1950), née Orr,Deaths: Jack, The Argus, (Thursday, 14 September 1950), p.17. Kenneth William David Jack was born in Malvern on 5 October 1924.Births: Jack, The Argus, (Saturday, 11 October 1924), p.13.
His son-in-law Fred Schmidt is also an Australian watercolour artist.
Artist He became a professional painter at the age of 39 after giving up his job as senior instructor at the Caulfield Institute of Technology, and continued as a prolific painter until his death on the 10th of June 2006.
Recognition 1977: elected to the Royal Watercolour Society. 1982: awarded the MBE: "for service to the arts".New Years Honours: Victoria: MBE, The Canberra Times, (Thursday, 31 December 1981), p.8. 1987: awarded the Order of Australia (AM): "for service to the arts, particularly to watercolour painting".Australia Day Honours: Member (AM) General Division, The Canberra Times, (Monday, 26 January 1987), p.6.
The Kenneth Jack Memorial Drawing Award The Kenneth Jack Memorial Drawing Award was established in his honour in 2007 by The Australian Guild of Realist Artists. The inaugural winner was Margaret Gurney.Kenneth Jack Memorial Drawing Award, The Australian Guild of Realist Artists.
Collections Kenneth Jack's works can be found in these collections: Royal Collection at Windsor. Victoria and Albert museum. National Gallery of Australia. The Australian War Memorial The capital city collections of every Australian state.
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References World War Two Nominal Roll: Corporal Kenneth William David Jack (125555), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
External links Melbourne Age "Melbourne in a past light" 22 June 2005 retrieved 20 June 2006 Kenneth Jack at Australian Art Kenneth Jack website