Wildlife artist and fly fishing expert Jack Grundle of Campbell River died on February 2, 2004. Born in Cochrane, Alberta, in 1922, his parents moved to Powell River a year later. There he grew up and developed his love of fishing until 1941, when he joined the RCAF and went overseas until 1945. Upon return, he spent two years attending the Vancouver Art School, then worked as a highly successful commercial artist for 18 years. In 1965 he started publishing his own magazine -- Western Fish & Game -- which he also edited, wrote some of the articles, drew most of the illustrations, and painted all of the covers.
Although popular with the outdoor set, economics saw the magazine fold in 1975. Undaunted, Jack Grundle started painting wildlife and fish full time and never looked back. Then, after he had painted all of the animals many times over, he switched to painting whatever attracted his attention, usually scenics, while driving northern Vancouver Island backroads with his wife, Lia, whom he always referred to as his best friend.

Illustrations for:

Admirals, Adventurers, and Able Seamen: Forgotten Stories About Places On Our British Columbia Coast and How They Got Their Names. By Harrison Brown (Keystone Press, 1953)

Co-editor of:

British Columbia Game Fish (Vancouver Western Fish & Game, 1970). Foreword by Roderick Haig-Brown. With Pete Broomhall.

[BCBW 2004] "Maritime" "Fishing" "Publishing" "Place Names"