According to Wikipedia, Alexander C. Koolman RBA MSIA (1907–1998) was an English portrait and figure painter who worked predominantly in oil and pastels.
This newspaper article from the 19th March 1925 issue of the Mitcham Advertiser, refers to him as Alec, and tells of him having attended Singlegate School and of him winning a scholarship at the age of 17 for the Patrick Allan Fraser Art College.
YOUNG MITCHAM ARTIST.
Alec Koolman’s Achievement and Promise.
Alexander C. Koolman, of 1, Robinson-road, Collier’s Wood, a former scholar of Singlegate School, Mitcham, who, as stated in the “Advertiser” last week, was awarded the Patrick Allan Fraser Art Scholarship by the trustees of the college of that name, mainly for his clever black and white work, is already in residence at the college, Hospitalfield, Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland.
The scholarship, of which only four are awarded annually, gives four years’ training, with residence, board and clothing free, in a beautiful old building, formerly a castle, amidst very romantic surroundings. Writing to his mother at the week-end the talented young artist, who is 17 years of age, expressed his delight with his surroundings and prospects.
Koolman, who owes a good deal to the personal interest of Mr. Archibald Dall, the head master of Singlegate School, and also to Mr. Taylor, his class teacher, both of whom encouraged him and helped him in his early attempts with the pencil, gained a scholarship from Singlegate to Wimbledon Art School in his 14th year. At Wimbledon his superior talent was quickly recognised and he passed quickly from stage to stage to the life class. The Wimbledon school can boast another young pupil who gained an Allan Fraser Art Scholarship at the same time, T. Burdon, a lad of 16. He accompanied Koolman to the college.
“Alec was always drawing something when he was quite a mite,” Mrs. Koolman told the “Advertiser” representative, “ and one of his first sketches to show talent was of his officer uncle, which he drew stealthily while lying on the sitting-room floor. That was in wartime. It was the very image of his uncle, too.”
Koolman’s chief interest is in black and white work, and it is his aim to become a successful illustrator of books and magazines. He shows a decided gift for humorous work as well and has a fair sense of colour, but so far he has not betrayed much interest in that department of art. Some of his first attempts at caricature were on members the Tooting and Mitcham Amateur Boxing Club and local football clubs.
In portraiture his work, so far, varies considerably. One delightful little sketch shown to the “Advertiser” representative was of a neighbour’s four-year old child, Beryl Hateley. The “ likeness ” was caught with considerable skill, and the line work was free and delicately expressed. In figure work the young artist has also a grasp of technique and a sense of form, and when given the opportunity, as shown in a sketch of a bungalow from a bare plan, he can use his imagination with effect.
Singlegate School is very proud of its promising young artist.
Mitcham History Notes 