Alexander Young Jackson was born on October 3, 1882 in Montreal, Quebec. During his early childhood his father left his mother and his family. Consequently, they had to fend for themselves and survive on a minimal income, coming from only one parent. Although Jackson was merely a child, he started working at the age of 12, as an office boy at a printing company, to help support his large family, which consisted of 5 brothers and sisters, his mother and himself.

Jackson first started off as a commercial artist. He had his first art training through his employment, as an office boy at a printing company. He received training from different lithography firms between 1895-1899, in Montreal. During the same time between the years of 1896-1899, he was trained by Edmond Dyonnet, at the Conseil des Arts et Manufactures. Several years later, in 1906, he took classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. He also studied art at night classes. Furthermore, he studied art for two years while in Europe, specifically at l’Acadmie Julien in Paris, France, for a few months.

For 50 years Jackson traveled all across Canada sketching and painting. He liked to create principally Canadian art, and during the winter painted huge canvases. He preferred nature and wilderness as the theme of his artwork, and only rarely used humans in his art. For a short period of time during his career, he traveled throughout Europe to places such as France and Italy. In Italy, he visited Venice, Rome and Florence, the bigger cities. It was in 1907 that he went to France to study Impressionism and while in France he decided to become a professional painter, and make a career out of it. In 1919, he focused mainly on individualistic impressionist artwork, which inspired paintings of scenery. A year later, in 1920, he formed what is known today as the Group of Seven, with six other famous painters. He was the main spokesperson of this group. He traveled for a short period of time with Sir Frederick Banting, and together they painted northern the regions of Canada and Greenland. Again several years later he painted the northern regions of Canada, however, this time with Lawren Harris.

In 1915, Jackson decided to joined the army, and went to Europe, where he was a in the First World War. A few years later, between 1917-1919, he painted Canadian War Memorials. Before the foundation of the Group of Seven, he became good friends with Tom Thomson, and together they fished and sketched. During the depression, while struggling both financially and professionally, in Quebec, he considered moving to the United States. Unlike many people, Jackson had the misfortune of having to live through both World Wars. Aside from painting, he illustrated the book “Chez Nous”, by Adjutor Rivard, and also, for “A Painter’s Country”, which is an autobiography. Nearing the end of his career, in 1943-1949, he was a teacher at Banff Summer School.

Jackson was greatly influenced by Tom Thomson who he shared a studio with in 1913-1914, and who was the first member of the Group of Seven to whom he was acquainted with. Thomson introduced him to wildlife in general, and specifically Algonquin Park, in Ontario. For years the two painted together. Early in his career Arthur Nantel influenced him. He also studied under William Brymner, who was of a great influence. Although the period of time he spend with Sir Frederick Banting was short, he was still influenced by him. Clute and Richardson were influences, as they were whom he studied under at the Institute of Chicage.

Jackson was a unique and talented artist, who was truly Canadian. He experienced lots throughout his life and this is reflected in some of his paintings. He was interested in art from a young age, and his love for painting never wavered. He had his tragic fate in 1974, in Kleinburg, Ontario.