Formal Analysis Of 'Hilltops' By Franklin Carmichael
Jessica Tang
Formal Analysis
Richard W. Hill
Melanie Wilmink
FA/ARTH 1900
Tutorial 12
“HILLTOPS” BY FRANKLIN CARMICHAEL FORMAL ANALYSIS
Franklin Carmichael’s “Hilltops” is a 25.4 x 30.4 cm oil on panel painted in 1943 located in the Art Gallery of Ontario. The painting is a depiction of a landscape consisting of rolling hills in the foreground and middle ground and sky with an overcast of clouds. Carmichael used flat areas of colour, bold horizontal lines, and simplification of objects that instils a sense of stability. In contrast, his use of thick, distinguishable lines, bright blue tones in the sky that is starkly juxtaposed with sullen grey clouds, as well as the mix of cool and warm colours of the hilltops in the foreground and middle …show more content…
The colours he used are saturated, embodying power and bright contrast. The drastic use of colour depicts the overall dynamic of Carmichael’s work. The foreground has hills that are composed of different tones of greys that are warmed with the use of muddy browns to create volume. The coolness of the blues and greys in the sky are contrasted with the warmth of the hills that are accented with playful, liberal strokes of mustard yellows and greens that amplify warmth in the foreground. In opposition to the murky and mundane colours of the sky and foreground, he paints the sky with vivid tints of blue. The smooth gradation of the blue sky creates a softness that seems to resist getting consumed entirely by the dim colours of the clouds and hills. The artist has not restricted his colour palette and created a clear contrast between the uses of the two different temperatures of colours. The pairing of a wide range of contrasting colours demonstrated in the clouds, sky, and hills strays away from harmonizing the entire painting and suggests a force of creative …show more content…
Action lies in the relationship between the artist’s choice of colours, space, and lines. He uses vibrant and rich colours to grab the observer’s attention and to create visual interest. Carmichael made excellent use of space by organizing the composition of the landscape. A foreground, middle ground, and background created depth in his work. Line is a vital aspect of movement and dynamic activity in the painting and was demonstrated through the varying lengths of bold, horizontal brush strokes. Collectively, all these formal elements, the use of contrasting temperatures of colour, thick lines, and solid forms all encapsulate the work’s energetic
Formal Analysis
Richard W. Hill
Melanie Wilmink
FA/ARTH 1900
Tutorial 12
“HILLTOPS” BY FRANKLIN CARMICHAEL FORMAL ANALYSIS
Franklin Carmichael’s “Hilltops” is a 25.4 x 30.4 cm oil on panel painted in 1943 located in the Art Gallery of Ontario. The painting is a depiction of a landscape consisting of rolling hills in the foreground and middle ground and sky with an overcast of clouds. Carmichael used flat areas of colour, bold horizontal lines, and simplification of objects that instils a sense of stability. In contrast, his use of thick, distinguishable lines, bright blue tones in the sky that is starkly juxtaposed with sullen grey clouds, as well as the mix of cool and warm colours of the hilltops in the foreground and middle …show more content…
The colours he used are saturated, embodying power and bright contrast. The drastic use of colour depicts the overall dynamic of Carmichael’s work. The foreground has hills that are composed of different tones of greys that are warmed with the use of muddy browns to create volume. The coolness of the blues and greys in the sky are contrasted with the warmth of the hills that are accented with playful, liberal strokes of mustard yellows and greens that amplify warmth in the foreground. In opposition to the murky and mundane colours of the sky and foreground, he paints the sky with vivid tints of blue. The smooth gradation of the blue sky creates a softness that seems to resist getting consumed entirely by the dim colours of the clouds and hills. The artist has not restricted his colour palette and created a clear contrast between the uses of the two different temperatures of colours. The pairing of a wide range of contrasting colours demonstrated in the clouds, sky, and hills strays away from harmonizing the entire painting and suggests a force of creative …show more content…
Action lies in the relationship between the artist’s choice of colours, space, and lines. He uses vibrant and rich colours to grab the observer’s attention and to create visual interest. Carmichael made excellent use of space by organizing the composition of the landscape. A foreground, middle ground, and background created depth in his work. Line is a vital aspect of movement and dynamic activity in the painting and was demonstrated through the varying lengths of bold, horizontal brush strokes. Collectively, all these formal elements, the use of contrasting temperatures of colour, thick lines, and solid forms all encapsulate the work’s energetic