I recently stumbled across a remarkable artist named Tom Thomson (August 5, 1877 – July 8, 1917). He was a Canadian artist whose work influenced a group of landscape painters known as the Group of Seven. Thomson passed away before the Group was officially formed, however he is sometimes incorrectly included in the Group. Thomson started drawing and ... Read more
Artist: Tom Thomson (1877 - 1917) Original oil on plywood, 1914 Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario Gift of Louise (Thomson) Henry, sister of Tom Thomson, 1967 Puzzle Designer: Jasen RobillardDimensions: 28 cm x 41 cm Piece Count: 408Difficulty: 4 out of 5 While not formally part of the Group of Seven, most Canadians recognize Tom Thomson's oeuvre and correctly attribute his influence and association with this group of elite artists. Soft Maple in Autumn features the beautiful orange, yellow and red hues associated with the fall colours of Algonquin Park. Jigsaw puzzlers will appreciate the autumn in Algonquin Park themed whimsies, including the elusive hero known as Mr. Canoehead. Read more about this design at our Deep Dive Design Blog. Made in Canada.
During the short painting career of Tom Thomson, he produced roughly 400 oil sketches and around 50 larger works on canvas. Learn more about him here.
During the short painting career of Tom Thomson, he produced roughly 400 oil sketches and around 50 larger works on canvas. Learn more about him here.
Museum-quality reproduction of Thomson masterpiece: ►In the Northland by Tom Thomson in 1915 ►Original Size: 114,5 x 101.7 cm (45 x 40 in) ►Medium: Oil on Canvas ►Made to Order ►100% hand-painted replica painting by our skilled artist JL ►Signature: finished painting unsigned ►Rolled canvas with no frame not stretched: rolled and shipped in protective tube ►Frame not included ►Creation time: about 4 weeks ►No watermarks on the finished painting ►Due to lighting effects and screen brightness/contrast settings, the color tones of the listing photos and the finished painting may vary slightly ►Please email to support [!at] bcsgallery.com for custom order/framing ►Free shipping upgrade available ►We cannot deliver to PO Box or APO addresses ►Tracking available Discover the captivating beauty of the Canadian wilderness with our hand-painted oil reproduction of "In the Northland" by the iconic Canadian painter Tom Thomson, created in 1915. This exquisite piece captures the essence of Thomson's deep connection to the untouched landscapes of Canada and his profound influence on the Group of Seven, a renowned collective of Canadian landscape painters. Thomson's "In the Northland" is a masterful representation of the untamed natural beauty found in the northern regions of Canada. With a keen eye for detail and a profound love for his homeland, Thomson expertly portrays the rugged terrain, pristine lakes, and towering evergreen trees that characterize the Canadian wilderness. The color palette chosen by Thomson in this particular work is nothing short of breathtaking. Rich greens, deep blues, and earthy browns come together to create a harmonious symphony that perfectly mirrors the diverse flora and fauna found in the Northland. The play of light and shadow in the painting adds depth and dimension, making it a true visual feast for art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our hand-painted reproduction pays homage to Thomson's original masterpiece with meticulous attention to detail. Our skilled artists, dedicated to preserving the integrity of Thomson's vision, use high-quality oil paints on canvas to recreate every nuance of color and texture. The result is a stunning piece of art that captures the essence and spirit of the Canadian wilderness, allowing you to bring a piece of Thomson's legacy into your home. Whether you're a seasoned art collector, a nature enthusiast, or someone looking to add a touch of Canadian heritage to your space, this hand-painted reproduction is a timeless choice. The meticulous craftsmanship ensures that each brushstroke reflects Thomson's artistic brilliance, making it a statement piece that transcends time and trends. This exquisite reproduction is not merely a decoration; it's a conversation starter, a testament to the beauty of the Canadian landscape, and a tribute to the artistic mastery of Tom Thomson. Hang it in your living room, study, or office to create a focal point that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Canada and the enduring legacy of one of its most celebrated artists. When you choose our hand-painted oil reproduction of "In the Northland," you're not just acquiring a piece of art; you're investing in a piece of Canadian history. Let the spirit of the Northland grace your home, inviting you to explore the boundless beauty of the Canadian wilderness every time you gaze upon this extraordinary masterpiece. BCS Art Gallery www.bcsgallery.com support [!at] bcsgallery.com
Exhibition dates: 19th October 2011 – 8th January 2012 Frederick Horsman Varley (Canadian born United Kingdom, 1881-1969) Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay 1921 Oil on canvas 132.6 x…
Tom Thomson print - Summer Shore Georgian Bay - 1916 Canadian artwork - Group of Seven True North Mat and Frame not included Choose the PAPER Premium Matte Fine Art Paper: a smooth, neutral-white, matte paper. or a Bright White Textured Matte Fine Art Paper Watermark will be removed before printing.There will be a .25 inch border all around the print unless you ask us to print to the edge.
About this product Product Identifiers Publisher Firefly Books, The Limited ISBN-10 1554071542 ISBN-13 9781554071548 eBay Product ID (ePID) 63726521 Product Key Features Book Title Group of Seven and Tom Thomson Number of Pages 444 Pages Language English Publication Year 2006 Topic Canadian Illustrator Yes Genre Art Author David P. Silcox Format Hardcover Dimensions Item Height 1.6 in Item Weight 73.1 Oz Item Length 10.2 in Item Width 8.8 in Additional Product Features Intended Audience Trade LCCN 2007-271462 Reviews These pictures are meant to be studied and analyzed, closely, carefully and attentively. They are meant to be reflected upon, even meditated upon... It's a visual narrative of the history and development of an extraordinary group of painters whose works have become national icons., ÝSilcox's¨ aim -- fully achieved -- is to cultivate "an appreciation of the role artists have in creating our identity.", ÝCovers¨ the entire spectrum of the proficient and prolific group's magnificent output... every painting is vibrantly, radiantly, and gloriously alive. -- Donna Seaman "Booklist" (10/01/2003), Includes many rarely seen paintings as well as the signature paintings that dazzle our imagination. ... The paintings are set on a white matte paper that allows the richness of the color and texture of the brushstroke to come through. ... The historical information is concisely written, offering insight into the men who led the movement of Canadian art into new, daring, interpretive and abstract directions. This beautiful book will be appreciated whenever it is opened. It's a gift, in more ways than can be expressed., Already on bestseller lists, includes many works from private collections that have never before been reproduced., A great introduction to the Group of Seven for the general public as the text is not overwhelming and so many of the artists' works are included., This is a remarkable book -- not just for its scholarship, which is of high quality, but for the sheer expanse of it all... an overview unique in this subject area., The abundance of images, lovingly reproduced, is this book's great strength. Produced entirely in Canada, using a distinctively Canadian typeface and printed on 100-lb archival paper, the book's many images are so marvelously presented that it is possible to see on the wooden panels and canvases the Group's spontaneous talent at work and to trace their fluid brushwork and painterly gestures., The prose floats on a breeze, the historical facts enlivened by judicious quotes and colorful details., The quality of the reproductions is superb... Could there be a more beautiful collection of Group of Seven works around currently? Not likely., Silcox is one of the few Canadian art specialists to achieve that balance between visual description and real in depth understanding of the history he is addressing., This beautiful book will be appreciated whenever it is opened. It's a gift, in more ways than can be expressed., Already on bestseller lists, includes many works from private collections that have never before been reproduced. A beautiful informative book... This one is a keeper and it deserves pride of place on the reference shelf., This is an important addition to the literature and an exciting opportunity for readers to discover the artists, indeed, the entire country for themselves. Highly recommended for all art libraries and academic collections., [Silcox's] aim -- fully achieved -- is to cultivate "an appreciation of the role artists have in creating our identity." The quality of the reproductions is superb... Could there be a more beautiful collection of Group of Seven works around currently? Not likely., Good and compelling... beautiful and masterful... quality of reproductions is excellent... [a] mighty tome., All of this is evidence that the book can rightfully be described, as the publishers contend, the most comprehensive and extensive collection of the Group's work... The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson exposes the art of these great artists in a new and refreshing way, and will definitely prove of be an invaluable companion for students of art history, as well as art lovers and gallery goers., Silcox [is] a wonderfully lucid stylist... this definitive volume presents 400 supreme color reproductions... covering the entire spectrum of the proficient and prolific group's magnificent output... every painting is vibrantly, radiantly, and gloriously alive: a veritable hymn to life., Substantial and opulent new study... ÝSilcox¨ is also a tough-minded revisionist prepared to ask hard questions. -- David Gordon Duke "Vancouver Sun" (10/27/2003), Good looking book... carefully researched history... some of these paintings can knock you out with their sheer beauty and power., The best introduction to the Group available. With elegant ease, Silcox expertly recounts the Group's travels and artistic concerns, relating them to the times with a refined talent for synthesis. The 369 reproductions look even crisper than those in the original edition., Quality of the reproductions is superb... Could there be a more beautiful collection of Group of Seven works...' Not likely., More than 400 stunning colour photographs make this as breathtaking as it is informative. By far the most complete and extensive collection of these artists' work ever published., Silcox... achieve[s] that balance between visual description and real in depth understanding of the history he is addressing., Handsomely produced, the book's large format and excellent reproductions do justice... A great addition to anyone's library., Good and compelling... beautiful and masterful... quality of reproductions is excellent and there are dozens of paintings shown here that have never been seen before by the reading public... this mighty tome, which has the best and most numerous reproductions of Thomson and Group paintings yet published,... has reminded us that these artists created unique, vibrant talismans to our good fortune at being able to spin out our lives in this extraordinary land., 350 color plates... one third... you've never seen before: portraits, domestic scenes, garden scenes., The quality of the color plates and of all other aspects of production is excellent... a valuable addition to any art lover's library., Included in Pictures and Music: A Top 10 List: 'the ten most warmly reviewed books about the arts' in 2003., [Silcox's] substantial and opulent new study clocks in at 448 pages, with 369 full color reproductions... he is also a tough-minded revisionist prepared to ask hard questions., Good looking book... a carefully researched history... some of these paintings can knock you out with their sheer beauty and power... the works collected in this well-produced book, with their beauty and variety and stubborn flaws, are a crucial part of our visual heritage., All in all, the book is a pleasure to look at and a useful addition to the literature on a vital period in the development of Canadian culture., A visual narrative of the history and development of an extraordinary group of painters whose works have become national icons., This is an important addition to the literature and an exciting opportunity for readers to discover the artists... Highly recommended., Included in Pictures and Music: A Top 10 List: "the ten most warmly reviewed books about the arts" in 2003. -- Ray Olson "Booklist / RBB" (11/02/2003), A great introduction... the text is not overwhelming and so many of the artists' works are included., Timely and beautiful... a thorough retrospective and comprehensive bibliography... Summing Up: Highly recommended., Included in Pictures and Music: A Top 10 List: "the ten most warmly reviewed books about the arts" in 2003., [Silcox's] aim -- fully achieved -- is to cultivate "an appreciation of the role artists have in creating our identity.", The book can rightfully be described, as the publishers contend, the most comprehensive and extensive collection of the Group's work., [Silcox's] aim -- fully achieved -- is to cultivate 'an appreciation of the role artists have in creating our identity.', Silcox... achieveÝs¨ that balance between visual description and real in depth understanding of the history he is addressing. -- John K. Grande "Vie des arts" (09/01/2003), 350 color plates... one third... you've never seen before: portraits, domestic scenes, garden scenes, and the prerequisite wilderness scenes, except with people in them., The quality of the color plates and... production is excellent... a valuable addition to any art lover's library. -- Sherrill Grace "Canadian Literature" (10/01/2005), As breathtaking as it is informative. By far the most complete and extensive collection of these artists' work ever published., Substantial and opulent new study... [Silcox] is also a tough-minded revisionist prepared to ask hard questions., Handsomely produced, the book's large format and excellent reproductions do justice to this most creatively innovative group of artists. A great addition to anyone's library., A beautiful informative book... This one is a keeper and it deserves pride of place on the reference shelf., [Covers] the entire spectrum of the proficient and prolific group's magnificent output... every painting is vibrantly, radiantly, and gloriously alive., Good and compelling... beautiful and masterful... quality of reproductions is excellent... Ýa¨ mighty tome. -- John Fraser "National Post" (09/06/2003) TitleLeading The Dewey Edition 22 Dewey Decimal 759.11 Table Of Content Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Icons: Images of Canada Gardens, Still Lifes, and Portraits The First World War Cities, Towns, and Villages The East Coast The St Lawrence River and Quebec Algonquin Park and Georgian Bay Algoma and Lake Superior The Prairies, Rockies, and West Coast The Canadian Arctic Chronology Selected Bibliography List of Works Reproduced Gallery Index General Index Synopsis This compact editi
Tom Thomson print - Bateaux - 1916 Canadian artwork - Group of Seven True North Mat and Frame not included Choose the PAPER Premium Archival Matte Fine Art Paper: a smooth, neutral-white, matte paper. or a Bright White Heavy Textured Matte Fine Art Paper a 100% cotton rag inkjet paper with a bright white, textured surface with an extremely-high colour gamut. This surface replicates that of traditional watercolour artist papers. Watermark will be removed before printing.There will be a .25 inch border all around the print unless you ask us to print to the edge.
During the short painting career of Tom Thomson, he produced roughly 400 oil sketches and around 50 larger works on canvas. Learn more about him here.
Our refusal to let the iconic artist rest in peace only adds to his myth.
This Intricately Designed Layered Anklet Features Afghani Heishi Beads In Four Different Palettes Inspired By Canadian Group Of Seven Artist Tom Thomson. The Centerpiece Of Beads Lies Beautifully On The Gold Plated One Millimetre Interacting Snake Chain. The Total Length Of This Style Is Nine Inches Plus A One Inch Extension Chain For Adjustability.
During the short painting career of Tom Thomson, he produced roughly 400 oil sketches and around 50 larger works on canvas. Learn more about him here.
Available in a variety of sizes and formats:Paper Prints - are offered on a 46 lb enhanced matte paper. We offer several sizes, each image is sent with a bit of white around the image so you have the entire image to be shown should you have it professionally framed. Matte and Glass - means it is ready to hang, framed in a 2.5 inch Black polystyrene frame, with a three inch white matte on top of charcoal(grey) matte. For the 19x20 outside size, the image is 6.5 x 8 For the 28x32 Outside Size the image is 16x20 Canvas is printed on a Giclee Canvas and offered in 3 categories Rolled, meaning it is rolled, you will need to frame it. Stretched (Gallery Wrapped) Meaning it is on a 1.5 inch stretcher bar, reinforced on larger sizes, ready to hang. FF Black/Espresso - FF means Float Frame, Canvas is stretched on a 3/4 inch stretcher bar, placed inside your choice of a Black or Espresso Float Frame. Ready to hang.
Giclee Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclee Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stetched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black, FF Espresso) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame. This is available in two colours, Black or Espresso.
Giclee Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclee Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stetched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black, FF Espresso) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame. This is available in two colours, Black or Espresso.
Giclee Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclee Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stetched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black, FF Espresso) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame. This is available in two colours, Black or Espresso.
Exhibition dates: 19th October 2011 – 8th January 2012 Frederick Horsman Varley (Canadian born United Kingdom, 1881-1969) Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay 1921 Oil on canvas 132.6 x…
Giclee Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclee Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stetched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black, FF Espresso) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame. This is available in two colours, Black or Espresso.
It’s the first day of fall…and the last of these “odes to the season.” It seems fitting to end in Autmun. As with Picturing Winter, Spring, and Summer, I have asked a few of my artist friends to share with us some of their favorite paintings that depict the Fall. It’s a complicated and beautiful […]
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I never imagined that I’d write a book for kids about Tom Thomson. TOM THOMSON’S PAINTBRUSH. For those of my friends who aren’t Canadian, Tom is an iconic Canadian artist who was bor…
Tom Thomson developed an artistic language that captured the unique qualities of the Canadian landscape - dazzling in colour and in tune with the subtle changing of the seasons. After his untimely death, Thomson's friends organised a memorial exhibition, and followed this up by forming probably the most famous artistic force in Canadian art history: the Group of Seven. Lawren Harris, J.E.H. MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston, Franklin Carmichael and A. Y. Jackson created - along with Thomson - a landscape style that to this day influences the way Canadians visualise their own country. Highly revered in Canada, these great artists are virtually unknown outside. This spectacularly illustrated book, arranged according to the geographical areas depicted, with scholarly essays investigating different aspects of the painters' craft, aims to redress that imbalance.
During the course of 2 days, the Oxtongue Lake Community came together with local artists to pay tribute to Tom Thomson, and the Group of 7.
Note: All Group of Seven images are available under Matte & Glass Framed and on a Giclée canvas For all descriptions and information, please look below For Matte and Glass - Framed Note there are 2 sizes listed here, the first is the 20x21 inches image is 6.5x8 inches glass size is 14x15 the second size is 32x36 inches image is 17x21 inches glass size is 27x30 inches Features: Prints are Limited Edition, numbered, titled and identified. Each print is framed with a 2 5/8" polystyrene moulding with a mahogany finish Prints framed with 3 inch white matte (white core) on grey Prints are also glassed Dust cover on the back Ready for hanging Giclée Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclée Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stretched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame.
Giclee Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclee Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stetched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black, FF Espresso) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame. This is available in two colours, Black or Espresso.
In a very prolific year, he made a view finished paintings on canvas, but the great majority were plein air oil sketches, of which some of the best are shown here.
Electric as a live wire, his work is a welcome reminder of what endures across decades.
Had a delightful visit this morning with Virgina Eichhorn, Director and Chief Curator of The Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. The museums shortened name is The Tom. Virginia was in Wausau for a few days to be a juror for the 2015 Birds in Art Exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum. 2015 is the 40th Anniversary of this important show. The requirements to even be considered as a participating artist are extremely arduous and well-vetted. Virginia shared that only ten percent of the artists that apply are ultimately included. Artists and visitors from all over the world want to be in, and view this show. More importantly and enjoyable for me was our discussion about Tom Thomson (1877-1917) an Owen Sound native, artist and sportsman. He was intimately involved with the Canadian group of painters called The Seven and is an artist I have followed and been a fan of for many years. My comment that, "one of the reasons I love Tom, and most of the Canadian, early 20th century painters is that their work has a certain Arts and Crafts esthetic that really moves me" was well-received by Virginia. She explained further that most of the backgrounds the painters had were in design and they were in fact influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement. Unfortunately our time was limited but the visit was great. If you are planning a trip to the Toronto area please visit The Tom Thomson Art Gallery in nearby Owen Sound. Besides being a repository for all things Tom Thomson it is also a delightful and energized community art center.The fishing is incredible out of Owen Sound as well. This first example is from the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Further, the biography of Tom was written by David Huff a member of Virginia's staff. Lastly, all of the photos of Tom and his paintings are courtesy of Wiki Art. Early Snow, 1916 oil on canvas 45.5 x 45.5 cm Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Acquired with the assistance of a grant from the Canadian Government, approved by the Minister of Canadian Heritage under the terms of the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, and with contributions by The Winnipeg Foundation, The Thomas Sill Foundation Inc., The Winnipeg Art Gallery Foundation Inc., Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Wiswell Fund, DeFehr Foundation Inc., Loch and Mayberry Fine Art Inc, and several anonymous donors. Tom Thomson, the brilliant, pioneering Canadian artist for whom the City of Owen Sound’s Art Gallery is named, was born near Claremont, Ontario, northeast of Toronto on August 5, 1877, the sixth of ten children born to John Thomson and Margaret Matheson. Two months later, the family moved to their new home, Rose Hill, near Leith, eleven kilometres northeast of Owen Sound. It was in this quiet rolling country side, overlooking the shores of Georgian Bay that Thomson grew up. Thomson was raised on the farm and received his education locally, though ill health kept him out of school for a period of time. He was said to have been enthusiastic about sports, swimming, hunting and fishing. He shared his family’s sense of humour and love of music. Indeed, Tom’s Victorian upbringing, gave him an immense appreciation for the arts. Drawing, music, and design were valuable and honoured pursuits. Within this Scottish family structure, however, there were also pressures to succeed, to find an occupation, to marry, and to have a family. Tom had a restless start to his adulthood. Unsuccessful at enlisting for the Boer War in 1899 due to health reasons, Tom apprenticed as a machinist at Kennedy’s Foundry in Owen Sound for 8 months. Still undecided on a career, he briefly attended business school in Chatham. In 1901, he moved to Seattle, Washington to join his brother George at his business college. Here he became proficient in lettering and design, working as a commercial artist during the next few years. By 1905, he had returned Canada to work as a senior artist at Legg Brothers, a photo-engraving firm in Toronto. Tom continued to return home to visit his family his entire life, though his parents had, by this time, sold the farm in Leith, and moved to a house in Owen Sound. In 1909 Thomson joined the staff of Grip Ltd., a prominent Toronto photo-engraving house, and this proved to be a turning point in his life. The firm’s head designer, artist-poet J.E.H. MacDonald, contributed much to Thomson’s artistic development, sharpening his sense of design. Fellow employees included Arthur Lismer, Fred Varley, Franklin Carmichael and Franz Johnson – all adventurous young painters who often organized weekend painting trips to the countryside around Toronto. After Tom’s death, these men, together with Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson, would go on to form Canada’s first national school of painting, the Group of Seven. Curator Charles Hill comments that “Thomson’s surviving artwork prior to 1911 consists of drawings in ink, watercolour and coloured chalk, of women’s heads very much in the vein of the American illustrator Charles Dana Gibson, who had established the “Gibson girl” look, as well as ink and watercolour landscapes done around Leith, Owen Sound and Toronto and illuminated text presented as gifts to members of his family or friends.” He also states “The arrangements of some texts and designs has a similarity to the patterning of stained glass and are most likely characteristic of the Arts and Crafts-influenced commercial work he might have done.” In 1912, inspired by tales of Ontario’s “far north”, Thomson traveled to the Mississagi Forest Reserve near Sudbury, and to Algonquin Park, a site that was to inspire much of his future artwork. It was during this same year that Thomson began to work for the commercial art firm Rous and Mann. He was joined there by Varley, Carmichael and Lismer. Later the same year, at J.E.H. MacDonald’s studio, Thomson met art enthusiast Dr. James MacCallum, a prominent Toronto Ophthalmologist. When out painting on location, Thomson would use a small wooden sketch box, not much bigger then a piece of letter-sized paper, to carry his oil paints, palette, and brushes; his small painting boards were safely tucked away from each other in slots fitted in the top. Sitting down in the canoe, on a log or rock, with the sketch box in front of him, he would quickly capture the landscape around him. In 1913 Thomson exhibited his first major canvas, A Northern Lake, at the Ontario’s Society of Artists exhibition. The Government of Ontario purchased the canvas for $250 a considerable sum in 1913, considering Thomson’s commercial artist’s weekly salary was $35 in 1912. That same year, Dr. James MacCallum guaranteed Thomson’s expenses for a year, enabling him to devote all his time to painting. Taking leave from his work as a commercial artist, Thomson returned north. Thomson’s home base when he visited Algonquin was Mowat Lodge, a small hotel in the tiny community of Mowat at the north end of Canoe Lake. Thomson would stay at the Lodge in the early spring, as he waited for the lakes and rivers to break up before he would go camping, and again in the late fall. Painting and fishing competed for his attentions in the park. He was not only an active guide for his colleagues from Toronto, but also for other summer park visitors. From a letter Tom sent to Dr. MacCallum from Camp Mowat, on October 6, 1914, Tom wrote: “Jackson and myself have been making quite a few sketches lately and I will send a bunch down with Lismer when he goes back. He & Varley are greatly taken with the look of things here, just now the maples are about all stripped of leaves but the birches are very rich in colour. We are all working away but the best I can do does not do the place much justice in the way of beauty.” Charles Hill notes that it appears that painting was not something Thomson learned easily, and the process was accompanied by much self-doubt. Jackson recounted that in the fall of 1914 in Algonquin Park Thomson threw his sketch box into the woods in frustration. Jackson claimed that Thomson “was so shy he could hardly be induced to show his sketches.” War had broken out in Europe in summer of 1914. Thomson was not able to enlist due to health reasons, but many of his artist friends and colleges did, or went overseas to work as war artists. From 1914 to 1917 Thomson spent the spring and fall sketching, and acted as a guide and fire Ranger during the summer in Algonquin Park. He became an expert canoeist and woodsman. He spent the winter in “Thomson’s Shack”, a construction shed outside the Studio Building in Toronto. It was here where he painted his now famous canvases, The Jack Pine, The West Wind, and Northern River, among others. This was a time of great change in the world with the First World War raging in Europe. As Thomson continued to paint in the North, he become interested in the subtle changes all around him. Thomson documented changes in the season, shifts in the weather and changes in the light over the day; for him these were exciting changes. Many of Thomson’s paintings from Georgian Bay and Algonquin Park strike an interesting balance; his imagery is at once innovative, but rooted in careful observation. His artwork changed dramatically: from painting every detail in an almost photographic manner in his earlier work, to capturing the true spirit of the landscape around him. Within a six-year period, he had developed a strong personal style of bold colour combinations, expressive brush strokes and unique images of the Northern landscape. Art historians have noted that Thomson paintings from this period show the artist’s appreciation of the rugged beauty of Algonquin Park. The bold immediacy of Thomson’s sketches was to define a new style of painting that would be attributed as uniquely Canadian and would shape how generations of people think about the Canadian landscape. Thomson was able to convey the dynamism and volatility of nature, breaking away from the traditional detail style of painting in his earlier works, to bold splashes of colour and non traditional compositions. His paintings came to suggest the drama of the woodland, and the forces of nature on the forests and lakes. Thomson found beauty in the most uncommon scenes – Jackson wrote: “To most people Thomson’s country was a monotonous dreary waste, yet out of one little stretch he found riches undreamed of. Not knowing all the conventional definitions of beauty, he found it all beautiful: muskeg, burnt and drowned land, log chutes, beaver dams, creeks, wild rivers and placid lakes, wild flowers, northern lights, the flight of wild geese and the changing seasons from spring to summer to autumn.” These were important times spent in Algonquin, bringing together Thomson and his fellow artists to exchange ideas, techniques, stories and philosophies, and inevitably building strong collegial bonds. Thomson’s confidence as a painter really developed during these years, encouraged and coaxed along by his peers. Thomson, the man, also found peace. He was seeking freedom from the repressive confines of Victorian family life, and escape from the hustle and bustle of Toronto’s art world where he never quite fit in. It was in the solitude of Algonquin’s lakes and woods that he became himself. Tom Thomson died sometime between July 8, when he was last seen, and July 16, 1917, when his body was found floating in Canoe Lake. The cause of death was recorded as accidental drowning. On Monday, July 16, Dr. G.W. Howland, a Toronto physician and professor of neurology at the University of Toronto, saw an unidentifiable object lying in the water some yards from the shore. Dr. Howland asked two local guides, George Rowe and Lourie Dickson, who were on the water at the time, to investigate. They found Tom’s body. Tom would have celebrated his fortieth birthday on August 5. His watch had stopped at 12:14. Dr. Howland was asked to examine the body before burial. He reported a bruise about 10 cm across the right temple, air issuing from the lungs, and some bleeding from the right ear. And though his death was officially recorded as accidental due to drowning, his demise has become one of Canada’s greatest mysteries. Thomson was initially buried in a small cemetery up the hill from Mowat Lodge, overlooking Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park. But at the request of his family, the body was reinterred in the family plot beside Leith United Church. In September of 1917, J.E.H. MacDonald, Dr. MacCullum and J.W. Beatty built a stone cairn on Hayhurst Point, overlooking Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park, close to one of Tom Thomson’s favourite camp sites across from the bay from Mowat. The cairn is a memorial to Thomson, marking the date and the place where he had died. Thomson’s death was a tragedy for his fellow artists – they lost an inspiring colleague, a great friend and their guide to the north woods. This untimely loss prompted a clarification of his artist friends’ vision for Canadian art; it strengthened their resolve and gave rise to the formation of The Group of Seven. The cairn’s inscription was composed by Thomson’s friend, painter J. E. H. MacDonald, and reads: TO THE MEMORY OF TOM THOMSON ARTIST, WOODSMAN AND GUIDE WHO WAS DROWNED IN CANOE LAKE JULY 8TH, 1917 HE LIVED HUMBLY BUT PASSIONATELY WITH THE WILD IT MADE HIM BROTHER TO ALL UNTAMED THINGS OF NATURE IT DREW HIM APART AND REVEALED ITSELF WONDERFULLY TO HIM IT SENT HIM OUT FROM THE WOODS ONLY TO SHOW THESE REVELATIONS THROUGH HIS ART AND IT TOOK HIM TO ITSELF AT LAST. The interest in Tom Thomson, the man, his art and the myth has increased dramatically over the years since his death. The people of Owen Sound named their new civic art gallery to honour Thomson in 1967. With strong support from the Thomson family, the Gallery’s collection of Tom Thomson’s artwork has grown over the years to become of national significance. Visitors from around the world travel every year to visit the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound to see the exquisite collection of works and memorabilia of one of Canada’s greatest mythic figures. The following brief Biography has been developed by David Huff, Manager of Public Programs at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound. The material has been compiled from various sources, including the Gallery archives, Charles Hill, Joan Murray and Stuart Reid. (Photos and text courtesy of The Tom) (All photos of Tom Thomson paintings are courtesy of Wiki Art) Click below for a look at the incredible work of Tom Thomson
Tom Thomson’s landscapes were influenced by British painter John Constable and by Art Nouveau design but his colours were all his own. Read about his influential style.
I recently stumbled across a remarkable artist named Tom Thomson (August 5, 1877 – July 8, 1917). He was a Canadian artist whose work influenced a group of landscape painters known as the Group of Seven. Thomson passed away before the Group was officially formed, however he is sometimes incorrectly included in the Group. Thomson started drawing and ... Read more
Tom Thomson print - In Algonquin Park - 1916 Canadian artwork - Group of Seven True North Mat and Frame not included Choose the PAPER Premium Archival Matte Fine Art Paper: a smooth, neutral-white, matte paper. or a Bright White Heavy Textured Matte Fine Art Paper a 100% cotton rag inkjet paper with a bright white, textured surface with an extremely-high colour gamut. This surface replicates that of traditional watercolour artist papers. Watermark will be removed before printing.There will be a .25 inch border all around the print unless you ask us to print to the edge.
Giclee Canvas Printed with Genuine Archival Inks An Additional 1.5 inch black border printed around the image Giclee Canvas are available in a variety of sizes and variations Rolled Canvas - Means the canvas is printed and rolled in a tube, shipped to you. You will need to have this stretched and or framed at a framers near you. Stetched Canvas (Gallery Wrap) - Means the canvas is printed and stretched on a 1.5" stretcher bar, larger sizes are reinforced in the corners, with the black printed border wrapped around the stretcher bar, giving the illusion of a black frame. Float Frame (FF Black, FF Espresso) - Means the canvas is stretched on a .75" stretcher bar, placed into a float frame, giving the illusion it is floating inside a frame. This is available in two colours, Black or Espresso.
Group of Seven Tom Thomson "The Canoe" 22x24 Framed Limited Edition - Dark Espresso Fine Art Frame - Coordinated Acid Free Double Matboard - Embellished Wood Fillet - Frame Size is 22x24 inches - Gallery Quality - Made in Canada
Tom Thomson’s landscapes were influenced by British painter John Constable and by Art Nouveau design but his colours were all his own. Read about his influential style.
