“Imagine a glorious full moon coming over the tops of the spruce, big and yellow, shedding a mysterious light on everything… the moonlight had colour, you could see to paint and be able to appreciate the colour of things.”
– Arthur Lismer on Experiencing the North country with Tom Thomson
Students were inspired this week by the life and work of famous Canadian artist Tom Thomson. Tom Thomson was born on August 5th, 1877 in Claremont Ontario. In 1904, while working as a draftsman he met members of the Group of Seven. Although Thomson was closely associated with the artists in the Group of Seven, the Group of Seven was not founded until after his death.
Although Thomson was always interested in the arts, he did not devote his career to painting until he was 30. In 1904, while working as a draftsman he met members of the Group of Seven. After his first trip to Algonquin Park in 1912, Thomson fell in love with the beauty and nature and would disappear for days into the wilderness while working on a painting.
To offset his art career, Thomson worked as a firefighter, a ranger and a guide in Algonquin Park while living on his own in a shack on Canoe Lake. Here he produced his most famous paintings: Jack pine and West Wind. Thomson died mysteriously on a canoe trip in 1917 at 39 years old. 
Students created their own moonlit winter landscape using many different art materials and techniques.
The tranquil mood of the painting was created using dark blue and black watercolour and acrylic paints. The moon and moon-light reflected on the lake were created when white oil pastels “resist” the watercolour of gradient blue to a black background.
A large tree was created in the foreground. Fan brushes were used to make a pine tree on the hilly background.
Dark Prussian Blue acrylic paint blended with grey acrylic paint were used with detail brushes to create texture on the trunks of the trees and branches, and highlights were added where the moon-light reflects off the trees.
Students did a really fantastic job this week – working from inspiration from one of Canada’s great artists – Tom Thomson. Take a look at the original Tom Thomson paintings and think about the quote from Arthur Lismer that inspired us:
“Imagine a glorious full moon coming over the tops of the spruce, big and yellow, shedding a mysterious light on everything… the moonlight had colour, you could see to paint and be able to appreciate the colour of things.”
Tom Thomson – The Jack Pine, Winter 1916-17 – Public Domain
Tom Thomson – The West Wind, Winter 1916-1917 – Public Domain
