plate no. 7590

Pine Island, Georgian Bay

Tom Thomson, 1916

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesskylandscapeislandfoliagesunset

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to depict the effects of light on a landscape. It's also a good exercise in capturing the movement of trees in the wind.

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 trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light yellows and blues, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of the island and the foreground foliage with dark greens and blues.
step 04
Begin layering the tree trunks with grays and browns, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Add the foliage using short, directional strokes of green, blue, and yellow, suggesting the wind's direction.
step 06
Refine the details in the foreground foliage, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the trees and sky.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · viridian green · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and use white to create lighter tints. Achieve the dark foliage by mixing dark green with burnt umber and a touch of crimson.

techniques