M. Bernard Loates (born January 1, 1945) is a Canadian artist, lithographer and publisher in the manner of the private press movement. The private press movement refers to a printing press or publishing method that is artistic based, with great attention to detail as opposed to commercially based. The proprietor controls all elements of the publication, from concept, to design, to the final execution. "Loates is recognized as one of the finest printing artisans..." Loates is best known in the United States for his M.Bernard Loates Edition of John James Audubon, Birds of America. In Canada, Loates is best known for his work with A.J. Casson, the last living member of the Group of Seven.
Early life
Loates was born in Toronto, a fraternal twin and the youngest of four boys. The family home was in Newtonbrook, a northern Toronto neighbourhood bordered by woods on the east side. Loates and his twin brother met Frederick Henry Brigden, founder of the Canadian Watercolourist Society, at his studio there. Brigden introduced Loates and his brother to the art of watercolours. At that young age they began painting as they explored the wooded area by Brigden's studio.
Loates left school at the age of 14. He held several jobs before being employed by Atomic Energy of Canada, beginning as a file clerk and becoming the lead draughtsman by age 19. It was here that Loates’ illustrated his first book beginning a long-lasting relationship with Publisher/Distributor Holt, Rinehart and Winston, as well as, Prentice Hall. Loates left Atomic Energy of Canada to become a publisher full-time.
Publishing career
Loates started Nature Impressions in 1968 and published three limited edition prints for his brother, nature artist M. Glen Loates. It wasn't until 1975 that Bernard Loates published his first book under the name Cerebrus Press, Mammals in Profile, artist: Glen Loates. A follow-up volume was published in 1979.
In 1977, Bernard published his first fine art book, The Art of Glen Loates. This was published as both an open edition or "trade" edition, as well as a limited edition with an enhanced format under the name Cerebrus Publishing. During this project Bernard worked with author, Paul Duval. This limited edition book was the first book that was published in the private press manner beginning in 1975 and was launched at the McMichael Conservation Collection of Art in Kleinberg, accompanied by a show of the artist's work.
The founder Robert McMichael introduced Bernard to the Group of Seven art that would become his focus in publishing, as demonstrated in the books that were later published. Bernard and author Paul Duval worked on the next fine art book, The Tangled Garden: the Art of J.E.H. MacDonald, published in 1978. J. E. H. MacDonald was the first member of the Group of Seven that Bernard published.
In 1979 A.J. Casson was the last surviving member of the Group of Seven. Bernard began a working relationship with Casson that would endure until his death in 1992. The first publication featuring Casson was Elora and Salem; Twenty Sketches released for a retail price of cdn$18,000. This was Bernard's second publishing in the private press manner.
Bernard continued publishing programs with Glen Loates, A.J. Casson, Toni Onley, and Walter J. Phillips amongst others. The publishing programs were in three forms, single print limited editions, trade edition books and limited edition books.
Bernard's work brought him to the attention of Pierre Trudeau, and Bernard became a frequent guest to the Prime Minister's residence and various balls where he was introduced to George H.W. Bush, Jean Chrétien, amongst others.
In 1982, through the Prime Minister's Office, a gift was made to the people of the United States by the people of Canada. Bernard Loates, the artist Glen Loates and Allan Gotlieb, Canadian Ambassador to the United States, presented to Ronald Reagan a painting of a bald eagle to commemorate the Year of the Eagle. The presentation was held in the Oval Office at the White House.
In 1983 Loates opened his print studio to other artists, publishing under the artist's own name/studio rather than his own branding. These included both limited edition books and prints, printed in much the same private press manner that Loates had developed. This also included some limited edition print publishing houses at the time, including Greenwich Workshop. By the end of 1986 Loates was forced to reduce his outside work when he began the Audubon project.