plate no. 1651

Chemainus Bay, Vancouver Island

Emily Carr, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapecoastlinewatercliffsbuildingsskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve vibrant, earthy tones and practice applying expressive brushstrokes to define form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the coastline, water, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Apply the darker values to define the shadows and depth of the cliffs and vegetation.
step 04
Mix and apply the various earthy tones to the hillside, using short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details to the buildings and vegetation, focusing on capturing their form and texture.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Add the small details in the water to suggest movement.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the color, value, and composition.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Achieve earthy browns by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and a touch of blue. Lighten colors with titanium white.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color layering
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Over-blending colors, which can result in a muddy appearance.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Using too much detail in the initial stages, which can make it difficult to adjust the composition.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, which can make the painting look monotonous.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags
·apron

Use a variety of brush sizes to create different textures and effects. Consider using a palette knife to apply thick layers of paint for added texture.

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