plate no. 2806

Indian Church

Emily Carr, 1929

oilCubismlandscapechurchtreeslandscapebuildingforestsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex shapes into geometric forms and practice layering colors to create depth and dimension.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the church, trees, and surrounding landscape, focusing on geometric forms.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darkest greens and browns in the background.
step 03
Add lighter shades of green to the trees, creating highlights and shadows to define their forms.
step 04
Paint the church with a base coat of white, then add subtle variations of gray and yellow to create depth.
step 05
Define the details of the church, such as the door, windows, and cross, using darker shades of gray and brown.
step 06
Add the fence and other small details in the foreground.
step 07
Refine the brushstrokes and blend colors where necessary to create a cohesive composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and dimension of the painting.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · payne's gray

Mix various shades of green by combining viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Create grays by mixing titanium white with a touch of burnt umber or payne's gray.

techniques