Franklin Carmichael Born in Ontario of Scottish parents, Franklin Carmichael gained an early knowledge of design from his father, a carriage maker. In 1909 he meet Canadian artist William Wood who became a long time supporter of his career. Carmichael moved to Toronto in 1911 and studied at the Ontario College of Art and Toronto Central Technical School. He was hired as an apprentice at the Grip Engraving Co. in 1911 where he subsequently met Tom Thomson, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald and Frederick Varley. Carmichael began to join in their sketching jaunts and by 1912 was studying at l’Academie des Beaux-Arts.
In 1914 Carmichael returned to Toronto and shared a studio with Tom Thomson He became a founding member of The Group of Seven when it was formed in 1920. During this time he and Lawren Harris made several sketching trips to Lake Superior. In 1925 he co-founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour with A.J. Casson whom he had met in 1915. At this time, Carmichael was devoting more time to this medium than any other. He also worked in engraving and had some success in industrial design, specializing in kitchen utensil design. In 1932 Carmichael was appointed head of the Graphic Commercial Art Department at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto.
Franklin Carmichael died in 1945 at the age of 55.