Adrian Dingle Sea Things (Test Sketch) Dec. 3 1973

Updated August 7, 2026

Artist: Adrian Dingle, RCA, OSA, FIAL (Canadian, 1911–1974) Title: Sea Things (Test Sketch) Date: December 1, 1973 Medium: Original Pentel ballpoint pen sketch on paper Image Size: 6.5 x 4 in. Frame Size: 16 x 9.5 in. Signature: Initialed "AD" lower center. Inscription: "Sketched with Pentel Ballpoint from Toper – Dec. 1–73 'Sea Things.' A rare and highly personal original sketch by celebrated Canadian artist Adrian Dingle, executed in Pentel ballpoint pen on December 1, 1973, less than a year before the artist's passing. The drawing portrays a young child seated in quiet concentration and is inscribed by Dingle as a "test sketch" for his work Sea Things, providing a fascinating glimpse into the artist's creative process. The reverse retains Dingle's original studio label from his Mississauga studio identifying the drawing as "Sea Things (test sketch)", along with a handwritten 1975 presentation inscription reading, "To Dr. Michael, with most sincere gratitude. Patricia Dingle – 1975." This direct family provenance significantly enhances the historical interest and collectability of the work. Unlike finished exhibition pieces, preparatory sketches by Adrian Dingle are seldom encountered on the market, making this an exceptional opportunity to acquire an intimate work connected directly to one of Canada's most influential twentieth-century artists. Artist Biography Adrian Dingle (1911–1974) was a distinguished Canadian painter, illustrator, muralist, and writer. Born in Wales and raised in Canada, he studied at the Ontario College of Art before establishing a successful career as both a fine artist and commercial illustrator. Dingle is perhaps best known as the creator of Nelvana of the Northern Lights, introduced in 1941 and recognized as Canada's first major Indigenous superhero, making him a pioneering figure in Canadian comic book history. Beyond illustration, he enjoyed an accomplished career as a painter, earning election to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA), the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA), and the Federation of Canadian Artists (FIAL). His work has been exhibited extensively and is represented in numerous public and private collections across Canada. Today, Adrian Dingle is celebrated equally for his contributions to Canadian fine art and for his lasting influence on the development of Canadian popular culture.

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