Paul Goranson

Paul Goranson (April 27, 1911 – August 3, 2002) was an official Canadian war artist with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was noted for the exactness of his pictures and the fearless way he worked under fire during World War II. He painted both the men and their machines.

Biography Goranson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1911. After attending the Vancouver School of Art (today Emily Carr University of Art and Design) and the British Columbia School of Art (1931–1934) where he received full training in drawing the figure from F. H. Varley. Goranson then worked as a portrait artist and commercial artist. Drawing inspiration from the bold colours of the Mexican artist Diego Rivera and from the heroic style of the American Thomas Hart Benton, the trio executed a series of large panels for a cabaret restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown and murals for a church. Posted to Newfie (1942), watercolour. In the collection of the Canadian War Museum. In 1941, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and two years later—after receiving his commission as an Official Second World War artist —became the first Air Force artist to be sent overseas. He was taught by looking at the work of Carl Schaefer and Charles Comfort.

While overseas he painted Bomber Command activities before going to Tunisia and Italy in August 1943. From July 1944 to spring of 1945, he painted scenes with the Tactical Air Force in Northwest Europe. He remained overseas until 1947 because he felt he had work to complete.

Collections and archives His work is in the National Gallery of Art, London, England; the Brooklyn Museum, New York; the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; and the Canadian War Museum (which holds 131 of his works on permanent display).

In the Vancouver Art Gallery library, there is a three page letter from Goranson to Gallery Director Jerrold A. Morris, dated February 19, 1950, in which he talked about his life and artwork.