plate no. 2794

Evening, Canoe Lake

Tom Thomson, 1916

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreeslakelandscapebirch treesrockssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying a landscape scene into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, lake, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, lake, and ground, using thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding details to the trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest bark texture.
step 04
Layer different shades of green and brown to create depth and variation in the foreground.
step 05
Add highlights to the trees and rocks to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the details of the lake, using horizontal brushstrokes to suggest water.
step 07
Add the thin branches using a small brush and a dark color.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create purples by mixing ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques