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When J.E.H MacDonald visited the Algoma region with other members of the Group of Seven they traveled in a Box Car modified into a living space and studio, up the Algoma Central Rail. May 7th, 2020 marked the 100-year anniversary of the Group of Seven’s first exhibition. J.E.H MacDonald was one of the founding members of the Group of Seven, born in Durham, England in 1873 as James Edward Hervey MacDonald. His first experience with art training was at the Hamilton Art School in 1887, and in 1889 he trained in Toronto Lithography houses and at the Central Ontario School of Art and Design (now the Ontario College of Art and Design). He moved to Toronto and in 1895 joined Grip Ltd. a commercial design firm, where he encouraged many colleagues to develop their painting skills. It was while working for Grip Ltd. that he met many of the future members of the Group of Seven, including Arthur Lismer, Franz Johnston & Frederic Varley. In 1911 MacDonald resigned and began to paint full time, after being encourage by fellow artist and friend Lawren Harris. In 1912 the future members of the Group of Seven began painting together, going outside of Toronto to Georgian Bay and Algonquin park, interested in capturing the true Canadian spirit through its landscape. In 1913 Harris and MacDonald travelled together to Buffalo, NY, to view a survey of Scandinavian landscape paintings which would influence their work and inspired them to develop a unique Canadian style of painting which led to the formation of the Group of Seven. In September of 1918 MacDonald took his first trip of many to the Algoma Region, accompanied by Lawren Harris, Franz Johnston and Dr. MacCallum. To accommodate MacDonald’s poor health, caused by a stroke in 1914, the group travelled by a modified box car that acted as both a studio and living space. They spent their days hiking and Plein-air painting the landscape around them. From this first trip to Algoma, MacDonald wrote to his wife Joan how Algoma had, all the attributes of an imagined Paradise, with the sky and that smooth shimmering infinity of waters” resembling “a glimpse of God himself”. In 1920 MacDonald co-founded the Group of Seven and on May 7th of the same year they had their first exhibition at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario). In 1921 MacDonald accepted a full-time teaching position at the Ontario College of Art, becoming the principle in 1928. MacDonald’s works have a sense of design in their composition, which reflected his early background and training. Early in his career his style of painting was severely criticized by art critics at the time calling it” incoherent mass of colour”. Today he is considered one of the artists who used rich pallet and vigorous brush strokes. The oil sketch in the AGA’s permanent collection was painted during his time in Algoma. In his studio MacDonald painted a large size painting called Solemn Land based on this sketch. J.E.H MacDonald was one of the founding members of the Group of Seven, born in Durham, England in 1873 as James Edward Hervey MacDonald. He moved with his family to Hamilton, Ontario, in 1887, and later moved to Toronto in 1895. In Toronto MacDonald joined Grip Ltd. a commercial design firm, where he encouraged many colleagues to develop their painting skills. It was while working for Grip Ltd. that he met many of the future members of the Group of Seven, including Arthur Lismer, Franz Johnston & Frederic Varley. In September of 1918 MacDonald took his first trip of many to the Algoma Region, accompanied by Lawren Harris, Franz Johnston and Dr. MacCallum. To accommodate MacDonald’s poor health, caused by a stroke in 1914, the group travelled by a modified box car that acted as both a studio and living space. In 1920 MacDonald co-founded the Group of Seven. In 1921 MacDonald accepted a full-time teaching position at the Ontario College of Art, becoming the principle in 1928. In 1932 MacDonald died at the age of 59. |
J.E.H. MacDonald (1873-1932)
Solemn Land
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GET INSPIRED
Colouring Sheet
Print off, colour in, and make it your own! Share your creations on our Art and Discovery Facebook event page.
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Get Inspired to Paint
Try this creative activity based on the artwork! Share your creations on our Art and Discovery Facebook event page.
J.E.H MacDonald’s works often started with a painted sketch he would make “En Plein Air”, which means he painted outside looking at the landscape (not a picture of the place!). This gave him the ability to not only paint exactly what he was seeing, but also what he was feeling! Try giving painting "En Plein Air" a go!
SUPPLIES
- Canvas or Strong Paper
- Paint (If you do not have paint you can draw instead using pencil crayons or crayons)
- Brushes
- Jar of Water
- Paper Towel or a Rag
INSTRUCTIONS
- Find somewhere you want to paint. It could be a spot in your yard or maybe a view from a window and set up a spot to paint with all your supplies.
- Now take some time to look at the scene you want to paint. Think not only about the colours you see, but maybe what colours you could use or exaggerate to show how it feels.
- Start with thin paint first and do a sketch of the place you want to draw. Do not be shy and remember there are no mistakes in art!
- Once the first layer is dry take a larger brush to paint with and begin to work on the top layer of your painting, always remembering to paint not only what you see but what you feel. Do not be afraid to make thick brushstrokes! J.E.H MacDonald and the Group of Seven didn’t use small precise brushstrokes, they used exciting brushstroke with thicker paint.
Once it is dry sign your painting and you’re done! Admire your work and don't forget to share your artwork on our event page. We can't wait to see what you create!
Get Inspired to Create a Journal
Try this creative activity based on the artwork! Share your creations on our Art and Discovery Facebook event page.
J.E.H. MacDonald created sketches/study paintings of the different places that he visited during his time in Algoma. These studies show us where he went and how he might have felt on his adventures. Create a journal of where you go and what you do in one day.
SUPPLIES
- Notebook or Sketchbook
- Pencils, Coloured Pencils, Pens, Crayons
- (Optional) Paint, collage materials, glue
INSTRUCTIONS
- Find a notebook for you to use as your journal (you can use a lined, or unlined notebook. Sketchbooks work well too!)
- Record what you do and where you go in the pages of your notebook.
- Use the notebook to express and record your adventures in any way that you like! Draw, colour, write, paint, or collage to tell your story.
Once you have finished recording your adventures in your journal for one day you’re done! Admire your work and don't forget to share your artwork on our event page. We can't wait to see what you create!
Get Inspired to Write a Poem
Try this creative activity based on the artwork! Share your creations on our Art and Discovery Facebook event page.
J.E.H. MacDonald's paintings are his expression of the beauty of the Algoma region and his emotional experience when he was there. Create a poem to express how Solemn Land makes you feel!
SUPPLIES
- Pencil or pen
- Paper or notebook
- OR a computer or tablet with a word processing software/app
INSTRUCTIONS
- Take some time to look at Solemn Land by J.E.H. MacDonald.
- Using Solemn Land as inspiration, create your very own poem! How do you think MacDonald felt when he created Solemn Land? How does the piece make you feel? Does it remind you of your own experiences? Does it remind you of places that you have been or places that you would like to go to?
- Write down all of your ideas and use them to create a poem.
Now you’re done! Admire your work and don't forget to share your artwork on our event page. We can't wait to see what you create!
