Estelle Muriel Kerr (1879-1971) was a Canadian painter, illustrator and writer.

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Life

Estelle Muriel Kerr was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1879.^[1] In Toronto she studied with Mary Ella Dignam and Laura Muntz Lyall.^[2] She studied at The New York Art Students League (NYASL) for about two years from 1901.^[1] She also spent two years at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. During the summers she sketched in Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.^[2]

Around 1913 Kerr shared a studio in Toronto with Dorothy Stevens. In World War I (1914-1918) she drove an ambulance in France. She became well known as an art critic and a painter of children.^[1] She also painted landscapes and figure studies.^[2] Kerr was among the founding members of the Graphics Art Club and the Heliconian Club.^[1] Kerr died in 1971.

Publications

Kerr illustrated several children's books and contributed illustrated stories and poems to several publications. She published:^[2]

• Little Sam in Volendam, children's book
• The Town Crier of Gevrey", based on her experiences in World War I.

Selected writings

• Concerning Canadian Art. Courier (7 Oct. 1916?).
• Do You Speak Spanish? Toronto Star Weekly (21 Aug. 1926): 21.
• How Henri Won His Maple Leaf. Canadian Magazine 54.3 (Jan. 1920): 220-22.
• I Seek Lodgings in Paris. Toronto Star Weekly (14 May 1927).
• In the Vineyards of Burgundy. Canadian Magazine 52.2 (Dec. 1918): 631-35.
• Monsieur Le Fou: The Tale of a Misunderstanding - Reggie Is Locked Up But Makes His Escape. Toronto Saturday Night (16 Jul. 1927).
• Recommended Hotels. Toronto Star Weekly (11 Dec. 1926).
• The Artist. Toronto Saturday Night 26: 35 (7 Jun. 1913): 29.
• The Etcher's Point of View. Canadian Magazine 48 (Dec. 1916): 152-59.
• Uncle Norman's Portrait. Canadian Magazine 50.6 (Apr. 1918): 489-495.
• Women Sculptors in Toronto. Women's Saturday Night (20 Jun. 1914).
• Royal Castles in France. Canadian Magazine 64.4 (Feb. 1916): 282-94.