| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
When the war ended Lort was demobilized in England, and returned to Canada on the Empress of England, sailing for Canada on March 23 1919. He received a "War Service Badge Class A" number 239204, and a "War Service Gratuity" of $500.00. Upon his return he was made a partner with Maclure and put in charge of the Vancouver office. Lort was the 68th architect registered with the Architectural Institute of B.C.
As an artist, Lort mostly created woodcuts, but also did watercolor and tempera paintings. In 1918 he exhibited carved animals as "crafts" with the Island Arts and Crafts Society.
Lort married Cecilia Marion Frances Rolston in Victoria on July 22, 1913. They had five children.
In 1931 Lort self-published a limited edition of All Creatures Great and Small, a small artist's book. The book consisted of 26 limericks about animals, each illustrated with a humourous linocut block print. In the 1960s Lort had another edition of the book published by Marine Printers, Vancouver. In a 2004 interview with Lort's son Billy Lort the editor was advised that all of the linoleum blocks for the book had disintegrated over time. An effort was made to print the book again after the 1960s edition, but the blocks were not in good enough condition to be used again, and were all thrown out.
Lort retired in 1964. It seems that the firm name continued for some time as Lort & Lort Architects, as that name is on the construction drawings for the Plaza 500 Hotel at 12th & Cambie, Vancouver, which opened in the mid-1970s. It is diagonally across the street from City Hall, and the Jolly Alderman pub was a popular spot. The city Mayors held their annual reception there on occasion.
For some reason Lort did not seem to exhibit his artwork after the 1950 B.C. Society of Artists 40th Anniversary show.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| DATE | EXHIBITION | ARTWORK |
| 1932 May - July | VAG All Canadian Exhibition | Barn, Lulu Island |
| Lonely Trail, Cheakamus Canyon | ||
| 1932 Oct. 5 - 30 | VAG B.C. Artists 1st Annual | The Fisherman's Quilt |
| 1933 Feb. 13 - 18 | Sylvia Court West End Artists Exhibition | (title not known) |
| 1933 June 3 - 11 | BCSFA 23rd Annual | Coal Bunker, False Creek |
| Obsolescence | ||
| A Hydah Raid | ||
| Harry Hood | ||
| Terra Nova | ||
| Japanese Village | ||
| The Golden Ear | ||
| 1937 April 16 - May 1 | BCSFA 27th Annual | Blank Expression |
| On Nicola Street | ||
| 1940 May 17 - June 2 | BCSFA 30th Annual | Circus Detail |
| 1945 May 18 - June 10 | BCSFA 35th Annual | Haida Indian Oolichan Box Designs (1) |
| Haida Indian Oolichan Box Designs (2) | ||
| 1950 April 25 - May 14 | BCSA 40th Annual | Coalbunker |
| Circus Detail |
100 YEARS OF B.C. ART (refer to VAG58)
4th BURNABY NATIONAL PRINT SHOW (refer to BAG67)
PRINTMAKING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 1889-1983 (refer to AGGV83)
VANCOUVER: ART & ARTISTS 1931 - 1983 (refer to VAG83)
WHO'S WHO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 1937-38-39
A Record of British Columbia Men and Women of Today
S. Maurice Carter Editor & Publisher
Copyright 1939, printed by The Robson Printers, Vancouver B.C.
208 pages, hardcover; name index (8 pages), biographies (196 pages), obits. (4 pages)
Includes reference to Lort
WHO'S WHO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 1944-45-46
A Record of British Columbia Men and Women of Today
S. Maurice Carter Editor & Publisher
Copyright 1945, printed by Atlas Printers, Vancouver B.C.
312 pages, hardcover; index of names (14 pages), biographies (290 pages)
list of abbreviations (2 pages), advertising including the only portrait in the book
Includes reference to Ross Lort
ISLAND ARTS AND CRAFTS SOCIETY - List of Exhibitors
ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)
OCEAN PAPER STONE by Robert Bringhurst
"catalogue of an exhibition of printed objects", published by William Hoffer Spring 1984
Includes All Creatures Great and Small with publisher/edition information
Although Bringhurst didn't know who Lort was, he knew about the two editions of the work
A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
2 references to Lort.
BUILDING THE WEST - Early Architects of British Columbia
2003; Edited by Donald Luxton, numerous contributing authors and researchers
Talonbooks, ISBN 0-88922-474-9
560 pages, extensively illustrated in black and white, some colour
4 page biography of Lort; 2 linocuts from All Creatures Great and Small reproduced
THE FECKLESS COLLECTION (refer to FECK18)
Telephone interview by Gary Sim with William (Billy) Lort, son of Ross Lort, and interview at editor's apartment with Billy Lort, 2004.
Review of Lort fond at Vancouver Art Gallery Library.
Correspondence and telephone calls with John Lort, grandson of Ross Lort, 2023.
"Ross Lort is exhibiting a picture never before shown, ... "
From "'West End' Show Of Art Works" by D.S.M.
Vancouver Sun, February 15 1933
"Other students who enjoyed the outing at the Royal Savory (sic) Hotel were ...
Mr. R.A. Lort ... "
From "Art Students Hold Display of Summer Work"
Vancouver Province, July 4 1933
""Circus Detal" (sic) by Ross Lort is a delightful small painting,
in simple, direct coloring, original in both subject and design, and with
more than a touch of that rare ingredient, humor."
From "Watercolors Highlight of Art Showing" by
Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun, May 3 1950