Charles Hodge Mackie


Charles Hodge Mackie was a Scottish artist. He was a co-founder, and the first president, of the Society of Scottish Artists in 1900.

Early life and career

Charles Hodge Mackie was born in Aldershot, England, the son of an army captain of Scottish descent. His family moved to Edinburgh, and he briefly attended the University of Edinburgh as a medical student. He then studied art at the Royal Scottish Academy School where William McTaggart was one of his tutors. At the beginning of his career, Mackie worked in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. His first exhibition of a Kirkcudbright picture was of Kirkcudbright Town in 1884 at the Royal Society of Arts. In 1893 he worked with Patrick Geddes, creating murals for an urban renewal project at Edinburgh's Ramsay Garden.

French influence

In 1892, Mackie and his wife honeymooned in France, where he befriended Paul Sérusier. Sérusier later introduced him to Paul Gauguin and other artists within the Pont-Aven School, making Mackie one of the first British artists to meet Gauguin. These connections resulted in a strong French influence in Mackie's works, and it was Gauguin who convinced Mackie to use Japanese oak blocks for printing, rather than cut linoleum. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, Mackie had adopted a more conventional impressionist style.

Memberships

In 1900, Mackie was a co-founder, and the first president, of the Society of Scottish Artists. In 1901, he was a founding member of the Staithes Art Club. He was a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and became a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1917.

Associates

Mackie became close with many Pont-Aven School artists during his trips to France. He also had a close friendship with artist Laura Knight, whom he had met at an artists' colony in Staithes in North Yorkshire around 1900. In 1908, he travelled to Venice with fellow Scottish artist Adam Bruce Thomson. His French style also had an influence on some of the Glasgow Boys.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions of Mackie's work during his lifetime.