The Group of Seven and the Alberta Landscape

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The Group of Seven and the Alberta Landscape
How did this famous Canadian group paint Alberta
Landscapes?
Teaching Slideshow By R. M. Anderson
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The Group of 7
J.E.H. MacDonald
A.J.Casson
Lauren Harris
A.Y. Jackson
Tom Thomson
Frank Carmichael
Arthur Lismer
V.H.Varley
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Why are the group of sevenso famous as Canadian
artists?

• What can we learn about Albertas landscapes from
  them?

But how come there was 8 of them?
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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.

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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!
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Each member of the group of 7 had a different
style
Tom Thomson-Autumn trees
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They all liked to paint Canadian landscapes
Tom Thomson-Spring Ice
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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.

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Maligne Lake, Jasper Park
Lauren Harris
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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.

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Start with a sketch
A.Y. Jackson Canmore, Alberta   1947
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Sketch everything wherever you go
A.Y. Jackson Weeds, Alberta     (1950 )
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A.Y. Jackson Waldron Ranch, Alberta     (1947 )
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Plan your painting
 A.Y. Jackson Exshaw, Alberta     (1950 )
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Add colours in the sky
A.Y. Jackson Pre-Cambrian Hills     (1938 )
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Bend the lines for movement
A.Y. Jackson October, Twin Butte, Alberta    
(1951 )
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Use darker colours for shadows
A.Y. Jackson Porcupine Hills, Alberta     (1937
)
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Add shadows to your trees
A.Y. Jackson Winter Moonlight     (1921 )
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Tell an interesting story
 A.Y. Jackson Drought Area, Alberta     (1937 )