Tobacco Patch, 1937

As a child in the 1920s, Parkin often spent time with her aunt and uncle, artists George Pepper and Kathleen Daly Pepper, at the Studio Building in Toronto, the home and workplace of several Group of Seven painters.

“George Pepper was my mother’s brother. He and my aunt Kathleen (Kay) lived in the legendary Studio Building, in the Rosedale Valley, Toronto, financed by Lawren Harris and designed by Eden Smith. I visited them frequently there as a girl.

“George loved painting the rolling hills of the country around the area of their cottage in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, while Kay was interested in painting portraits of people in the area and their lusty, strong character. I tried to paint like her when I was young—though regrettably I never had her talent.

“George and Kathleen used to have the most beautiful Christmas parties in their Studio Building home. They handmade all the decorations, and I remember very vividly the party hats made of craft paper, spray-painted gold and silver. The feast would go on all day. Many of the artists who were their neighbours in the building would be there celebrating—A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, J.E.H. Macdonald. … Little did I know I was among such a famous group.”