This spring we studied the life and art of Ted Harrison, including his early work in England, the development of his artistic style in Canada’s North and the subtle changes in his art after his move to Vancouver Island.
We decided to create our own work based on Harrison’s style using oil pastel resist with a water colour wash.
First we did some experimentation with the properties of oil pastels through drawing, blending and textural rubbings. We thought the bold lines drawn with pastels would emulate the strong lines in Harrison’s landscapes.
Then we explored the combination of oil pastels and watercolour paint to create the bright, lively colours typical of Harrison’s depiction of the Yukon.
We started drawing our landscapes with black oil pastel, keeping the lines simple and strong.
Then we painted between the lines with watercolour paint, using shades and tints of similar colours, as well as the contrast of warm and cool colours, to create vibrant landscapes of our own.
ShaunaFarrell 