Reference no: EM133679388

Introduction

One of the most well-known artists in Canada is Ted Harrison (1926-2015). He has gained national recognition for his love of the Yukon and its people. His unique painting style is appealing to both young and old because it is colorful and sophisticated while still maintaining an air of innocence. Harrison reduces most of his figures to simple lines as nature does. Such attributes are palpable in his acrylic masterpiece "The Golden Sunset" (1989) to which we dedicate this review.

Body

Through the art of Ted Harrison, we can see his interests, his concerns, and his desire to revolutionize the world with a colorful, captivating and daring style. The artist, using strident colors and screen printing, delights us with multiple sunsets, accompanied by people carrying out daily tasks or animals coexisting with his habitat. Harrison's interests include traveling and that has led him to paint multiple scenarios with diverse people. However, his greatest inspiration is the everyday scenes of Yukon. Indeed, he portrays the cold Far North as a brilliant and friendly place. But even more, his art has an aura of innocence due to his youthful drawing style. For this reason, it is not surprising that Ted Harrison's art has illustrated multiple children's stories, including: "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and "The shooting of Dan McGrew."

In the work reviewed we can observe Ted's characteristic trademark: a bright and clear sunset. In the scene there is also a small house emitting smoke from the chimney, a girl carrying buckets, a man carrying a bag, some birds receding towards the horizon, a wolf and a rabbit running around. We can see in the image that the man is pointing towards a bright sunset full of possibilities. However, while man points to the horizon, it is only the birds who can reach the sky and head towards the light. The girl is looking ahead, without noticing the sky and the light, with the purpose of finishing her chores.

This could also symbolize that the girl continues her path, because she is still young and has a long way to go. While the boy can stop to look at the horizon where it all began, he can remember what he experienced through his colors and stop to contemplate the contrast between his life and the light. Since the horizon is clouded with cheerful colors like yellow or orange, the mountains and the ground where the girl and the adult were painted blue, which could symbolize sadness and hard roads. The sunset is a sign that we are aging just like the day, going through stages from birth or dawn until dusk when the light goes out and the time for rest arrives.

Conclusion

I think he did a great job of capturing the essence of the northern landscapes in its simplicity. His strokes are so approachable and vibrant as life itself. Above all, he shows us via his artwork that life can be joyful, and all we must do is look at his paintings to witness that. Besides, his work expresses the passion with which the artist contemplated his homeland, the Yukon. Though he is no longer with us, Ted Harrison led a fulfilling life. So, his unique imagination has challenged us to be the better version of ourselves we can.