plate no. 6055

Pic Island, Lake Superior

Lawren Harris, 1924

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapeislandlakecloudslandscapeskyhills

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle gradients and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also encourages simplification of forms and 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 island, hills, and clouds, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray, blending the colors smoothly.
step 03
Add the cloud shapes with white and light blue, softening the edges.
step 04
Paint the distant land and lake with a light, warm beige, creating a sense of depth.
step 05
Block in the dark masses of the island and foreground hills with a dark brown.
step 06
Add highlights to the island and hills with a slightly lighter, warmer brown.
step 07
Refine the shapes and edges of the island and hills, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the land, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows. Payne's gray can be added to umber for darker areas.

techniques