plate no. 4043

Indian House Interior with Totems

Emily Carr, 1912

oilPost-Impressionisminteriortotem polesfiguresinteriorindigenous artbuildingcultural scene

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose, expressive brushwork and capturing the atmosphere of an interior space with complex color relationships. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a scene with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the totem poles, figures, and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow patterns, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin adding details to the totem poles, focusing on their unique shapes and colors.
step 05
Refine the figures, simplifying their forms and using color to suggest their clothing and features.
step 06
Develop the architectural details, using brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Step back and adjust the overall composition, ensuring that all elements work together harmoniously.

color palette

primary · red · blue · brown · white

secondary · green · yellow · purple

Mix browns and reds to create the earthy tones of the wood and totem poles. Use blues and greens to create the cool tones of the shadows and the wings of the totems. Mix white with other colors to create lighter values and highlights.

techniques

·expressive brushwork
·color layering
·atmospheric perspective
·simplified forms
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not harmonizing them effectively.
→Getting bogged down in the details of the figures and losing sight of the overall composition.