plate no. 7912

Totem Walk at Sitka

Emily Carr, 1907

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreestotem polesforestpathwayfoliagelight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the interplay of light and shadow within a forest setting. It also provides practice in rendering complex shapes with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, path, and totem poles, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the path to establish the base tone.
step 03
Begin layering darker values of green and blue for the foliage, using wet-on-wet techniques to blend the colors.
step 04
Add the tree trunks using a mix of burnt umber and raw sienna, varying the values to create depth.
step 05
Paint the totem poles with careful attention to their shapes and colors, using a smaller brush for details.
step 06
Introduce highlights on the path and foliage using lighter shades of yellow and green.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and totem poles, adding texture with dry brush techniques.
step 08
Add final touches of light and shadow to enhance the atmospheric perspective.

color palette

primary · viridian · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · raw sienna

Mix greens by blending viridian with yellow ochre or burnt sienna. Achieve darker values by adding ultramarine blue to the greens and browns. Use white sparingly to create highlights.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·color layering
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·gouache
·watercolor pencils

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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