Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Monet
Let’s express ourselves by painting a Monet inspired Japanese bridge and water lilies.
About the Artist:
Claude Monet was born in France in 1840, and from a young age, wanted to become an artist. He entered a school for art at age ten! He moved to Paris and began painting “en plein air” or outdoors in nature. He is one of the founding artists of the style known as Impressionism, named for his painting “Impression sunrise.” These artists were more concerned with capturing a feeling of a place and time than making a painting completely realistic. They used quick brushstrokes.
He is known for his series of paintings of the Rouen cathedral, grainstacks, and especially, paintings of his garden. He painted these subjects at all times of day, in all weather conditions, to show the changes of light and color. He made over 2,500 paintings and drawings in his life.
Join me as I paint a scene from his water lily pond, with its famous Japanese style bridge.
Materials:
Thick paper
Oil pastels (or crayons)
Watercolor paint
Brush and cup of water
Paper towel or rag
Watch Ms. Jennifer here:
Instructions:
Begin by drawing the arched bridge in a light color of oil pastel or crayon. Make a “rainbow” shape. Go over your line a few times to make a thick railing of the bridge.
Make several vertical lines for the bridge railings.
Make small vertical lines above the bridge with different shades of green for the willow trees and bushes.
Make short horizontal strokes of white, blue, green in the water below the bridge.
Draw long horizontal green ovals for lilypads. Give them a shadow line underneath.
Make small, wide U shapes with red or pink, then fill with white for the lily blooms.
Now for the watercolor! Use a green wash of color over the areas above the bridge and the edges.
Use blue watercolor paint all across the water area. The oil/wax from your drawing will “resist” the watercolor paint and show through!
For Doodlebugs Ages 2-5:
Materials:
Paper
Crayons
Watercolor paint
Brush
Water container
Instructions:
Show your child an image of Monet’s Japanese bridge. Talk about the shape of the bridge.
Allow your child to make a big rainbow or frown shape with a crayon or oil pastel, pressing hard enough to make solid lines.
Encourage them to draw with green crayons above the bridge, and blue below.
Wash over the drawing with watercolor paints.
You did it!
Please don't forget to email your artwork to Jennifer@BlowingRockMuseum.org so it will be showcased in this Friday’s Kids Gallery!
And if you find value in our mission to bring art enrichment to community students through programs such as Young at Art, please consider supporting BRAHM by donating or joining as a member.
Did you know that a membership at the FAMILY LEVEL ($75) and above gives you FREE access to our weekly youth art classes?