plate no. 4444

Arbutus Tree

Emily Carr, 1922

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesforestlandscapeskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing the texture of tree bark using visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex natural forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, leaving space for the foliage.
step 03
Establish the main tree trunks with a base color of light brown mixed with white.
step 04
Add darker shades of brown and red to the tree trunks to create form and texture.
step 05
Paint the foliage using various shades of green, layering darker greens on top of lighter greens.
step 06
Add highlights to the foliage with lighter greens and yellows.
step 07
Define the background trees and foliage with loose brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · sap green · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix greens by blending blue and yellow, and vary the shades by adding white, brown, or red. Achieve the tree bark color by mixing burnt sienna with white and touches of red and brown.

techniques