Jock MacDonald’s “The Black Tusk, Garibaldi Park, B.C.” is a powerful, iconic painting of an iconic B.C. landform. MacDonald, associated with Canada’s Group of Seven artists, created linear landscapes using simplified, stylized forms to express the spirit of the scene.
The Black Tusk holds significant meaning for our family; it is a prominent volcanic peak near Whistler, British Columbia, known for its distinctive black, tusk-like shape. We have hiked to the Tusk many times, and especially enjoy the stunning Garibaldi Lake nearby.
My reproduction, "The Black Tusk, Garibaldi Park, B.C. After MacDonald", captures the rugged grandeur of this powerful landform. The stark black, jagged peak, formed from an ancient volcano, dominates the scene, with snow and glaciers swirling on its slopes. The landscape is rendered with a mix of subtle warm greens, yellows, and pinks, while cooler blues and mauves define the snowy shadow areas. Overhead, dramatic clouds in soft greys, blues, and pinks swirl among the cobalt blue of the sky, adding to the overall intensity of the scene.
I approached this studio piece by first defining major forms with envelope lines in charcoal, a method I prefer over static grid lines for capturing gesture and movement. I then created an underpainting in various tones of burnt sienna, a technique that helps establish values and provides a warm base for subsequent colours, enhancing their depth and vibrancy. Emulating MacDonald's linear approach, I outlined the major shapes in black and began laying in colours with fairly thin paint, building up from the darkest values. As the painting progressed, I refined hue, value, and intensity with thicker paint. The paint is noticeably thick, and energetic brushstrokes are visible throughout, adding to the drama and movement of the painting, allowing some of the warm burnt sienna underpainting to peek through for added depth.
This painting aims to convey the awe and monumentality of The Black Tusk. I hope the viewer feels the overwhelming power of nature that I do when I’m immersed in such spectacular landscapes.
This artwork is available at Stockhome Design in Vancouver. Please visit to view in person!
Note: Canadian copyright laws permit sales of reproductions following 70 years after the artist’s death.