The Group of Seven and the Alberta Landscape

How did this famous Canadian group

paint Alberta Landscapes?

Teaching Slideshow By R. M. Anderson

The Group of 7

Lauren HarrisJ.E.H. MacDonald

Tom Thomson

A.Y. Jackson

Arthur LismerFrank Carmichael

A.J.Casson

V.H.Varley

Why are the group of sevenso famous as Canadian artists?

What can we learn about Alberta’s landscapes from them?

But how come there was 8 of them?

The Group of 7

• “For almost twenty years, the members of the Group of Seven shared two great passions: creation and nature. Throughout their careers, they traveled to various regions of Canada and captured the soul of the country, portraying it in a bold and expressive style. Captivated by their subjects, they developed their techniques during their trips and created a new style of Canadian art.”

Tom Thomson was an important friend of the group of 7

• Born near Claremont, Ontario, in 1877, Thomson was raised on a farm near Owen Sound. He liked sketching and fishing.

• In 1908 he found a job at Grip Limited in Toronto. There he met J.E.H. MacDonald, and other artists who enjoyed weekend sketching excursions with him.

• By 1912 Thomson wanted to be a painter, and supported himself by working as a guide and fire ranger in Algonquin Park.

• His promising career ended with his mysterious death by drowning in 1917, a loss felt severely by all the members of the Group.

He died before the Group of 7 was famous!

Each member of the group of 7 had a different style

Tom Thomson-Autumn trees

They all liked to paint Canadian landscapes

Tom Thomson-Spring Ice

Harris goes to Alberta

• Harris painted Maligne Lake, Jasper Park after a two-month sketching trip with Jackson in Jasper Park, Alberta.

• They made the difficult journey on foot to Maligne Lake, attracted by the big mountains and beautiful reflections.

Maligne Lake, Jasper Park

Lauren Harris

Meet A.Y. Jackson

• Alexander Young Jackson was born in Montreal.

• In 1910 he showed his painting called The Edge of the Maple Wood.

• Lauren Harris wanted to buy the work .

• This led to Jackson's meeting the other artists.

• He travelled to Alberta to sketch.

• Jackson tells his story best in his colourful autobiography, A Painter's Country.

Start with a sketch

A.Y. Jackson Canmore, Alberta   1947

Sketch everything wherever you go

A.Y. Jackson Weeds, Alberta     (1950 )

A.Y. Jackson Waldron Ranch, Alberta     (1947 )

Plan your painting

 

A.Y. Jackson Exshaw, Alberta     (1950 )

Add colours in the sky

A.Y. Jackson Pre-Cambrian Hills     (1938 )

Bend the lines for movement

A.Y. Jackson October, Twin Butte, Alberta     (1951 )

Use darker colours for shadows

A.Y. Jackson Porcupine Hills, Alberta     (1937 )

Add shadows to your trees

A.Y. Jackson Winter Moonlight     (1921 )

Tell an interesting story

 A.Y. Jackson Drought Area, Alberta     (1937 )