BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Embassy of Canada -- Exhibit: For Better or For Worse: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston

DC -- Embassy of Canada -- Exhibit: For Better or For Worse: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston:

Bruce Guthrie Photos Home Page: [Click here] to go to Bruce Guthrie Photos home page.

Description of Pictures: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston
September 13, 2019 through January 2020
For more than thirty years, Lynn Johnston captured the hearts of readers around the globe with her Pulitzer Prize-nominated comic strip For Better or For Worse. Now appearing as reruns, it is still seen in over 2,000 newspapers – including the Washington Post - throughout Canada, the United States, and about 20 other countries.
The comic strip chronicles the lives of the Patterson family; parents Elly and John raised their three children, Michael, Elizabeth, and April in a chaotic and love-filled home. For many fans, the family resembled the all too familiar realities of relationships filled with arguments, emotions, and friendship. Fans experienced graduations, young love, heartbreaks, and acne all alongside their fictional family. To make the comic strip realistic, Lynn aged her characters in real time. As the Pattersons matured, Lynn took her comic from simply drawn, two-dimensional characters, to a complex storyline full of detail, color, and humor. The adventures of the Pattersons mirrored Lynn’s real life family adventures — and many of her fans’ lives too!
The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston exhibition contains artefacts and drawings which show Lynn’s influences and early illustrations, and the surprising, real-life inspirations behind her beloved characters and storylines.
The exhibition is open from September 13th, 2019 through January 2020. The Embassy’s art gallery is located next to the Newseum at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW and is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, free of charge.

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. ECJOHN_190912_020.JPG: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston For nearly thirty years, the Patterson family has lived and grown with us, as though they were just another ordinary family. The difference is: they exist only on paper. The fictional family at the heart of Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better or For Worse has seen its share of ups and downs, highs and lows. Unlike other comic strips, Lynn's characters grew and changed in real time. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why For Better or For Worse has been so successful, and why it has resonated with so many people, and for so long. The story has revolved around Elly Patterson, a married housewife and mother of three. What began as a family-based, gag-a-day type comic strip evolved into a sophisticated, storyline-based, dramatic column that addressed everything from chores and relationships to death and spirituality. It has been discussed over morning coffee in millions of households across Canada, the United States, and beyond for over three decades and is still gaining new readership since 2008, when the strip began to run again from the beginning in newspapers and online. For Better or For Worse has become part of people's daily lives and routines, taking on a life of its own and cementing its popularity. -- Katherine Hadway
2. ECJOHN_190912_070.JPG: Funny Cats and Dogs Lynn Johnston (textile designer), 2013
3. ECJOHN_190912_076.JPG: Framed Fabric Art Textile Designer: Lynn Johnston 2015
4. ECJOHN_190912_089.JPG: Apparel Textile designer: Lynn Johnston 2015
5. ECJOHN_190925_006.JPG: The embassy was also promoting the new cartoon-related exhibit at the Mexican Cultural Institute -- "100 Years of Cartoons in El Universal".
6. ECJOHN_190925_034.JPG: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston For nearly thirty years, the Patterson family has lived and grown with us, as though they were just another ordinary family. The difference is: they exist only on paper. The fictional family at the heart of Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better or For Worse has seen its share of ups and downs, highs and lows. Unlike other comic strips, Lynn's characters grew and changed in real time. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why For Better or For Worse has been so successful, and why it has resonated with so many people, and for so long. The story has revolved around Elly Patterson, a married housewife and mother of three. What began as a family-based, gag-a-day type comic strip evolved into a sophisticated, storyline-based, dramatic column that addressed everything from chores and relationships to death and spirituality. It has been discussed over morning coffee in millions of households across Canada, the United States, and beyond for over three decades and is still gaining new readership since 2008, when the strip began to run again from the beginning in newspapers and online. For Better or For Worse has become part of people's daily lives and routines, taking on a life of its own and cementing its popularity. -- Katherine Hadway
7. ECJOHN_190925_038.JPG: Scrapbook sheet Lynn Johnston, age 10 1957
8. ECJOHN_190925_052.JPG: There Was Something Living in Every Corner Lynn Johnston, ca 1973
9. ECJOHN_190925_059.JPG: Self-Portrait Lynn Johnson, ca 1960
10. ECJOHN_190925_086.JPG: Lynn's Process Lynn was committed to writing and drawing a comic strip for each day of the week, plus a Sunday comic (the Saturday comic in Canada), for 365 days a year. The Sundays differ from the dailies in that they were larger, did not follow a storyline, and were printed in color. In order for Lynn to make her deadlines, she developed a five-step routine: writing, drawing, inking, toning, and delivery... With modern technology and the internet, Lynn was able to submit her artwork to her publisher instantly. Lynn and her team had to keep up this process throughout the year. If a deadline was missed, there was a penalty charged for each day a strip was late. After paying a $100.00 (US) penalty, Lynn always kept ahead of her deadlines.
11. ECJOHN_190925_089.JPG: Creating a Comic
12. ECJOHN_190925_092.JPG: Michael Patterson Today? Just an idea! Lynn Johnston, 2010
13. ECJOHN_190925_096.JPG: Drawing Reference Material Small toys and models are valuable reference material for drawing an object or creature at an unusual angle. Photos help to draw someone in an unusual pose or posture. Polaroid or toy, ca. 2002
14. ECJOHN_190925_129.JPG: Everybody Teased Me! Lynn Johnston Original strip showing errors and corrections September 8, 1991
15. ECJOHN_190925_131.JPG: Everybody Teased Me! Lynn Johnston
16. ECJOHN_190925_138.JPG: What Are the Stars For? Lynn Johnston Original strip showing errors and corrections pen and black ink on wove card October 25, 1998
17. ECJOHN_190925_164.JPG: The Patterson Family Many baby boomer families grew up with the Patterson family. Parents Elly and John raised their three children, Michael, Elizabeth, and April, in a chaotic and love filled home. For many fans, the family resembled the all too familiar realities of relationships filled with arguments, emotions and friendship. Fans experienced graduations, young love, heartbreaks and acne all alongside their fictional family. To make the comic strip realistic, Lynn aged her characters in real time. As the Pattersons matured, so did Lynn's artistic skill. She took her comic from simply drawn, two-dimensional characters, to a complex storyline full of detail, color and humor. Styling changes and character development were features that made For Better or For Worse uniquely relatable. The adventures of the Pattersons mirrored Lynn's real life family adventures -- and many of her fan's lives too! The Patterson family, the Johnston family, and the readers' families were intertwined for the 30-year lifespan of the strip.
18. ECJOHN_190925_177.JPG: Apparel Textile designer: Lynn Johnston 2015
19. ECJOHN_190925_179.JPG: Lynn Today In retirement, Lynn's humor and wit continue to come through in her work, which mirrors were electric personality. She is working in different mediums, including acrylic paint, and she continues to go back to animation artwork because it's a form of art that she can still "get a kick out of!" A newfound art form for Lynn is textile and clothing design. The many levels of Lynn's talent continue to surprise and delight her family, friends, and fans. It takes a true artist to admit there are challenges in being an artist -- both in the commercial and fine art worlds. "I have always found it difficult to draw and paint seriously. I can do it, but I get bored. If I can make something funny, I will, and there goes my painting! I would like to become what they call "an artist" but then again, what is art anyway? I do what I do because comic art and laughter art part of me -- the way I express myself and the way I connect to people who don't know me. If I can make someone laugh, then I have made a friend... so perhaps the gift I have isn't such as problem after all."
20. ECJOHN_190925_216.JPG: Not everything needs to be serious. There are plenty of giggles to be found in For Better or For Worse strips.
21. ECJOHN_190925_231.JPG: Meet the Characters Throughout the 30-year lifespan of the comic strip, Lynn developed the lives of the Patterson family in a world that included many complex relationships. The story started with Elly, John, and their three children: Michael, Elizabeth and April. Interestingly, all of these characters aged in real time -- not a feature seen in most comic strips. Relationships and friendships grew with each character resulting in many secondary characters and storylines. As the creator, Lynn had to keep track of all of the progression by changing the appearance of the children as they grew, changing hairstyles, and adding grey hair and wrinkles to the adults. Each time a character moved locations, Lynn had to incorporate their new community and surroundings.
22. ECJOHN_190925_237.JPG: April's Birth As Lynn watched her son and daughter leave the nest to start adventures of their own, she had an aching feeling of wanting another baby. With no offspring on her horizon, she decided she was going to have a baby in her own way. To the surprise of the Pattersons, Elly became pregnant in 1990. April Patterson was born on April 1, 1991 and was the youngest member of the Patterson family -- over a decade younger that her older siblings Michael and Elizabeth. The new addition to the Patterson family delighted readers, and Lynn too! As a gag, and to celebrate the birth of April, some of Lynn's friends threw a surprise baby showe.r Elly's pregnancy brought new excitement: fans read as Elly went to doctor's appointments, and experienced sickness and exhaustion. The birth of April made the rest of the Patterson family grow up and take charge of the household.
23. ECJOHN_190925_258.JPG: Michael & Deanna Michael was the first Patterson child to get married. He and his long-time girlfriend, Deanna Sobinski, didn't want to live together before marriage, so they eloped. The couple had a second wedding ceremony with friends and family almost a year later. Soon after, Deanna became pregnant with their first child, Meredith. Two years later, they welcomes their son Robin into the family.
24. ECJOHN_190925_289.JPG: Shannon Lake April's classmate Shannon was born with some serious medical problems. Several surgeries kept her from school, which meant she found herself two years behind peers her own age. With the wisdom that came from living a life outside the "mainstream," Shannon could forgive and forget some of the cruel things said and done to her. Her maturity and strong sense of humor was an endearing surprise to teachers and to those who got to know her well. She pulled no punches, spoke her mind, and defended herself verbally with with and sarcasm. Shannon learned to read and to be accepted for who she is. Through Shannon, April also learned new things about her own world, her friends and her perceptions of others.
25. ECJOHN_190925_311.JPG: Death & Illness Grandma Marian's Death Comics rarely deal with the details of death and dying. When Grandma Marian became ill, Elly went out to Vancouver to take care of her parents. After Marian's death, Elly took her father Jim home to Milborough to live with her and her family. Grandpa Jim's Stroke Many storylines in For Better for For Worse were snapshots of real events in Lynn's life. Several years ago, Lynn's mother-in-law, Ruth, had a stroke in her home. Ruth was standing at her stove, with her husband Tom, her son Rod, and Lynn nearby. She turned to face them, said nothing, and simply slid down to the floor. Lynn's recollection of Ruth's stroke has been told through Grandpa Jim. Jim lived with aphasia as a result of his stroke. Jim -- previously able to communicate through speaking, listening, reading, and writing -- became more limited in his abilities.
26. ECJOHN_190925_341.JPG: Infidelity For Better or For Worse tackled hard subjects that didn't appear in other comics. Elly's friend Anne discovered that her husband Steve was having an affair. Elizabeth's college boyfriend Eric cheated on her with another woman.
27. ECJOHN_190925_360.JPG: Mtigwaki In 2004, Elizabeth Patterson moved to a First Nations community called Mtigwaki, in Northern Ontario, to teach at a small school. Lynn stated that she "wanted to create an imaginary Ojibway community in Northern Ontario that would be true to life, giving readers a realistic view of what living in a First Nation community is like. In so doing, I (Lynn) wanted to show Elizabeth's world change for the better, with the challenge of teaching multiple grades in an unfamiliar environment, rich with Canadian history." Mtigwaki is rich with tradition, and historians deem it one of the few remaining original settlements still inhabited -- a place where Native language, traditions, and artwork remain encouraged and preserved.
28. ECJOHN_190925_384.JPG: Elizabeth's Sexual Assault Liz spent the summer of 2005 working at Lakeshore Landscaping. While there, she was attacked by a male colleague. Lynn's storytelling captured the insecurities of a victim, the defensiveness of a parent, the courage to step forward to report the assault, and the comfort offered by friends and family. Liz was subpoenaed, and the trial got underway in the fall of 2006. Together with the testimony of Howard's other victims, he was convicted in February of 2007.
29. ECJOHN_190925_406.JPG: Elizabeth's Wedding Elizabeth Patterson is the eldest daughter in the family. She is a responsible character who's [sic] goals in the strip were usually accomplished: graduating, becoming a teacher, and eventually finding love. When Elizabeth rekindled an old relationship, many readers anxiously anticipated wedding bells. Lynn had found the perfect opportunity to tie up her storylines; when Elizabeth and her fiancee, Anthony, were married, many friends, including members of Migwaki First Nation, Lawrence, Candace, Uncle Phil and more, joined in the celebration. Grandpa and Patterson and his partner, Iris, were the only characters that didn't attend the wedding. In the final comic released on August 30, 2008, Iris summarized how For Better or For Worse perfectly describes the lovable rollercoaster couples experience while growing old with one another.
30. ECJOHN_190925_427.JPG: Farley's Death Farley, the Patterson's sheepdog, was a happy (and sloppy) character who brightened the harsh winter, and made many readers smile. He was both the protector and beloved furry friend. When young April wandered down to the overflowing ravine behind her house, Farley knew he had to watch over the youngest Patterson. Luckily, Farley put his love into action, and saved April when she fell into the fast flowing creek. Farley and his offspring, Edgar, helped April survive by keeping her above water and alerting John and Elly. While April survived the traumatic event, Farley, who was aging, did not. Although he died a hero, the tragic death of Farley devastated Lynn's fans. One of her cartoonist colleagues also denounced the death of Farley, and even threatened to kill off his own beloved cartoon canine!
31. ECJOHN_190925_457.JPG: Lawrence Comes Out Lawrence Poirier is a Canadian-Brazilian who is Michael Patterson's long-time friend. In 1993, Lawrence's special place in the For Better or For Worse storyline became a significant moment for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community. Lynn knew there was something different about Lawrence and that he had a story to share with the world. Lawrence opened up about his feelings and sexual orientation. After a rocky start, Lawrence's family and friends embraced his courage and honesty. Lawrence coming out was a courageous story for Lynn to tell; it created an opening for conversation at a time when LGBT issues were marginalized in mainstream discussions. Lawrence's coming out was one of the most controversial events to ever hit the funny pages. When Universal Press Syndicate warned newspapers about the events that were about to unfold in Lynn's comic strip, many papers canceled the strip. Some readers boycotted newspapers that refused to censor the story. Others applauded Lynn for her courage, and supporting the storyline. The critics and the fans spoke loudly -- for every hateful response, came ten positive responses. Lynn even won a Media Award from GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) for Outstanding Comic Strip.
32. ECJOHN_190925_493.JPG: Michael Cavna's piece about the retiring of the strip
33. ECJOHN_190925_503.JPG: The Washington Post Sunday page on the day of the last For Better or For Worse comic.
34. ECJOHN_190925_520.JPG: Thank You Lynn Johnson, August 31, 2008
35. ECJOHN_190925_551.JPG: Thank You Lynn Johnson, August 6 & 30, 2008
36. ECJOHN_190925_592.JPG: "For Better or For Worse" Quilt Original artwork: Lynn Johnston Auto digitizing: Joan Greer Layout, design, and sewing: Lynn Morrison 2003
37. ECJOHN_190925_617.JPG: While I was photographing, embassy folks came by to give someone a tour of the exhibit. (Left to Right) Kate Grumbacher (curator of the exhibit here at the embassy), ???, Denis Chouinard (the embassy's public affairs counselor)
Bigger photos? To save server space, the full-sized versions of these images have either not been loaded to the server or have been removed from the server. (Only some pages are loaded with full-sized images and those usually get removed after three months.) I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
Connection Not Secure messages? Those warnings you get from your browser about this site not having secure connections worry some people. This means this site does not have SSL installed (the link is http:, not https:). That's bad if you're entering credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information. But this site doesn't collect any personal information so SSL is not necessary. Life's good!
Photo Contact: [Email Bruce Guthrie].