“Painting is a life-long commitment and a growing love affair. It is also a frustrating game in which the opponent is one’s self. Full of triumphs, it brings an elation like no other endeavor I know of. These little triumphs can occur late at night, early in the morning, or fifty times a day. Then there are the months when there are no triumphs at all.”
Robert Genn, 1981
Robert Genn (May 15, 1936 - May 27, 2014) was a highly respected Canadian landscape painter known for his dynamic depictions of British Columbia forests, coastal inlets, and mountain ranges. Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Genn developed an early and lasting connection to the natural environment of Canada’s West Coast, a relationship that would define his artistic career. His work is widely regarded as a continuation of the great Canadian landscape tradition, blending the structural clarity of the Group of Seven with a distinctly contemporary energy.
Robert Genn; On Cayoosh Pass, 1972
Educated at Victoria College and the University of British Columbia before continuing his studies at the Art Center School in Los Angeles, Genn refined a disciplined approach to composition, colour, and design. During his early career he encountered Lawren Harris, whose ideas about structure and spiritual presence in landscape reinforced Genn’s belief in strong compositional architecture. While never formally associated with the Group of Seven, Genn’s work is frequently discussed within that lineage due to his emphasis on northern light, bold form, and the expressive power of wilderness subjects.
Robert Genn; Rain at Blunden Harbour
Robert Genn’s paintings are recognised for their confident brushwork, vibrant colour harmonies, and rhythmic patterning. Working primarily in oil and acrylic, he often painted en plein air, setting up his easel directly in remote environments to capture immediacy and atmosphere. His subjects range from the forests and coastal mountains of British Columbia to the Rockies, desert terrain, and international locations across Europe and Asia. Trees, rock faces, and sky are frequently structured into powerful design elements, giving his canvases a sense of movement and internal energy that appeals strongly to collectors of Canadian landscape art.
Beyond his achievements as a painter, Genn became internationally influential through his widely read “Painter’s Keys” newsletter. Distributed twice weekly to artists around the world, it offered practical studio guidance and thoughtful reflections on the creative process. His books, including The Painter’s Keys, In Praise of Painting, and Love Letters to Art, remain valued resources for both emerging and established painters. Through workshops, lectures, and writing, Genn significantly expanded his impact beyond the gallery world, shaping contemporary discussions about landscape painting and artistic discipline.
Robert Genn; Above Okanogan Lake
Robert Genn exhibited extensively throughout Canada and internationally, and his works are held in numerous private and corporate collections. As a prominent figure within the Federation of Canadian Artists, he contributed meaningfully to the artistic community in British Columbia. Today, Robert Genn paintings remain actively traded in the Canadian art market, particularly strong examples of forest interiors and mountain compositions. Collectors seeking contemporary Canadian landscape paintings, British Columbia art, or post–Group of Seven tradition artists continue to regard Robert Genn as a significant and collectible name within Canadian art history.