This painting, "Lake Wabagishik, After Carmichael," is a master copy based on the iconic work of Franklin Carmichael, a major figure in Canada's celebrated Group of Seven.
Creating master copies is a key part of my practice because it allows me to study the techniques and design choices of historical artists firsthand. For this piece, I wanted to study Carmichael’s choices in design and colour, specifically how he captured the bold feel of the Canadian Shield landscape.
The painting captures the monumental forms of the northern Ontario hills and the striking movement of the sky above. I paid close attention to Carmichael's unique way of using simplified form and expressive colour, particularly in the rolling, layered hills of the middle ground. The saturated greens, yellows, and oranges of the land are set against the dramatic sky and the smooth, dark surface of the lake. The foreground also has these bold, curved shapes that contrast with the distant mountains.
This work is my way of honouring Carmichael's art and learning from his method. It's a close look at how he turned the wild energy and unique look of the Canadian landscape into powerful, timeless art.
This artwork is available at Stockhome Design in Vancouver. Please visit!
Note: Canadian copyright laws permit sales of reproductions following 70 years after the artist’s death.