By Alexa Harrison

Canadian Artist Project

Joe Average

Joe Average My Thinking Cap 2007

Joe Average The Incredible Thinking Man 1991

Joe Average is a Canadian artist who lives in Vancouver . His colorful and vibrant art showcases his mood as he lives with AIDS . He committed to art to challenge his mind and overcome his disease. His bright and upbeat way of life has been expressed in his charitable efforts .

Joe Average Background info

Made in 2007 My thinking cap. Joe Average in the painting speaks directly at his life living with aids .It expressed the need for humans to be loved and to have a sense of purpose in life . This painting was very much emotional but really made me happy because it showed how AIDS people take on their life . How pills on his nose really said to me that life without medication would impact on how people faced with this disease have to live .The value and intensity in the painting really make the colors pop out as well as the lines outlined in black . He makes them stand out by using bright acrylic paint as well as gouache a type of gloss used to make the colors match . After learning about Joe and his battle with AIDS I really now know why his paintings are so unique and proves that you can really do anything if you put your mind to it .As Joe said his paintings aren't about him more about the child in him.

Joe Average Art Critique

The incredible thinking man 1999 . Joe Average hates a couple of things and one of them being looking in the mirror . In this particular piece the subject he tried to label the art with was once you look into your eye it changes your view of you . His self portrait is covered on what look likes shapes but it is not . Those shapes are actually shards of glass because he had to keep picking up the pieces to keep himself going . For someone living with a disease like AIDS 20 years ago their was no hope to live and this picture unlike his other pieces ,this one gave me a very sad feeling .The bright and happy colors are still their but the picture itself isn't . The lines and value are very detailed and fine but in his other paintings there is not much detail . The acrylic paint and black fine line are toned down a bit in this particular piece as well as the buzz it gives off . The picture really expressed to me why his paintings are so amazing it’s the courage gone in to them .

Joe Average Art Critique

Ted Harrison

Ted Harrison Artic Night 1990

Ted Harrison Tree Planting1991

Originally born in England , Ted Harrison in the 1960s left his home town for Northern Canada .He has been painting ever since . Those ridged and vibrant colors of Canada's North .

Ted Harrison Background Info

Artic Night 1990 . Ted Harrison in this particular piece contrasts the paining with two subjects . The frozen lakes of the Artic can be seen in the back but as you get closer the Artic style of life is also decrypt. The sky is almost all black but when you look closer you can see a yellow ball of light above the sea . The moon .To make the painting look so real Ted Harrison prefers working with gouache and acrylic paint like Joe Average . I found this painting gave off a calming effect , which I prefer because you can focus more on one part of the picture other then several details .I found that this painting had a lot of value and intensity in the colors making them stand out not using fine line . The space was also a very positive aspect for this painting as it had many different aspects almost like the painting was telling a story .

Ted Harrison Art Critique

Tree Planting 1991 . In this painting Ted Harrison showed what Native people do in the winter or spring to begin the sign of a new growth . Planting trees was a painting done to re- creative the event . In the painting you can see the various elements of the mountain or hill . I think Ted Harrison's message in this painting was that if we all work together towards one thing we will accomplish it . As you get to the top of the painting you can see the full sized tree symbolizing a job done well . Something in common with Ted Harrisons other paintings is the amount of primary colors used as well as the bold landscapes .

Ted Harrison Art Critique

Emily Carr

Emily Carr A Rushing Sea of Undergrowth 1932

Emily CarrForest Clearing 1935

Emily Carr was born and raised in Victoria in the early 1800s . As she developed in her community and in her art she soon started traveling the coast of British Columbia . Her early inspiration grew from the environment as shown in her paintings . Emily Carr has won many different awards in writing and in her art . From First Nation subjects to forests Emily Carr expresses her compassion about painting in her work .

Emily Carr Background Info

A Rushing sea of undergrowth 1932 – 1935 .Emily Carr in the painting makes the woods look like they are in new growth in how widely spread out they are . Their roots are almost bursting off the page into the underbrush . The use of primary colors as well as the space used is evident . This is a very dark painting but the detail in it makes it flow really well . Oddly enough Emily Carr used gasoline to thin done her paint . She was even able to use charcoal to have freedom to experiment techniques .To make the vibrant colors simple artist paint was used . Its not the media used to make Carr's art so wonderful its her that does .

Emily Carr Art Critique

Forest Clearing 1939 . The trees curve and move almost making a protecting bubble for you to go in . The warm red colors as well as the style of blurriness make it almost feel like a distant memory of which you forget . The subject of the art being a forest really makes it stand out in simplicity . This was a happy painting of Emily Carr's because of the primary and warm colors in it . The water colors it self make it a feel almost at peace with the world .

Emily Carr Art Critique

Today I showed you three complex , unordinary artist and their work . I started out my PowerPoint with Joe Average and his exceptional story and meaning of life . His happy and vibrant paintings show him . Then sunsets and tundra followed of Ted Harrison . His paintings really express the way of life Artic people have . Emily Carr was definitely a outsider in style between these artist showing the dark Native scenes to forests in British Columbia. Joe Average brings the regular day to day scenes and then Ted Harrison and Emily Carr showing what life is to them individually as artists . One thing is the same though between the artists . The compassion and love they take in their work .

The Difference Between the Artists