Elected ARSA: 19 March 1902
Elected RSA: 14 February 1917
Charles Hodge Mackie was a Scottish artist whose practice ranged from painting to printmaking, murals and sculpting. Born in Aldershot in 1862, Mackie was raised in Edinburgh where he later trained as a medical student at the University of Edinburgh. Mackie then went on to train at the Royal Scottish Academy, particularly under the tutelage of William McTaggart.
In 1892, Mackie and his wife Anne MacDonald Walls travelled to Brittany, where he met Paul Sérusier and was introduced to the Nabi and symbolist styles, and most importantly, the works of Paul Gauguin and Edouard Vuillard. The following year, Mackie worked in Paris (and would return in 1900). Frequent visits to Brittany, Normandy and Étaples across the 1890’s and early 1900’s significantly influenced Mackie’s direction as an artist.
During this time, Mackie began to experiment with his mediums, learning woodblock printing, where his interest in Nabi and Japanese art would significantly underline his artistic character and techniques. His works of this period simultaneously feature a distinctly French impressionistic style, highlighting the intersection of French and Japanese techniques in this period.
Mackie’s extensive time in both France and Italy created a body of work quietly celebrating the features of these locations, highlighting charm of sunlight as it graces the urban landscape of Venice, the glow of twilight and streetlamps, and glimpses of bodies bathing in nature.
In 1917, Mackie was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy. Mackie also took an active part in the founding of the Society of Scottish Artists, and in 1900 he was elected their President. He was also a member of the Royal Scottish Water Colour Society. From an early date he exhibited from time to time in various Continental Art Centres, and in 1912 he was awarded a gold medal at Amsterdam.
