Impressionism Landscapes

High School Painting Class Rubric: Impressionist Watercolor Painting

This rubric will be used to evaluate your Impressionist-style watercolor painting, focusing on your ability to capture light, color, and the essence of a landscape. Your grade will reflect your execution of brushwork, use of color and light, adherence to the Impressionist style, and how well the landscape proportion fits the canvas. Below is the detailed breakdown of the criteria.

1. Brush Quality and Technique (25 Points)

Impressionist watercolor painting is known for its loose, expressive brushwork. This category evaluates the control, fluidity, and variety of your brushstrokes.

• Excellent (22-25 points): Demonstrates a high level of control and fluidity with the brush. The brushwork is varied and dynamic, with expressive, confident strokes that reflect the Impressionist style. The application of paint shows a strong understanding of how to use the brush to create texture, movement, and depth.

• Good (18-21 points): Brushwork is generally effective, with some areas showing dynamic and fluid strokes. There may be minor inconsistencies or areas where brushwork feels too tight or controlled.

• Satisfactory (13-17 points): Brushwork is inconsistent, with some areas feeling stiff or overworked. The strokes may lack energy or appear too uniform, detracting from the overall impressionistic effect.

• Needs Improvement (0-12 points): Brushwork lacks fluidity or confidence. Strokes may appear forced, overly controlled, or too heavy-handed, disrupting the natural and spontaneous feel of the Impressionist style.

2. Adherence to Impressionist Style (25 Points)

Impressionism is characterized by a focus on capturing light, atmosphere, and everyday scenes with visible brushstrokes and a sense of movement. This criterion assesses how effectively you incorporate these stylistic elements.

• Excellent (22-25 points): The painting clearly demonstrates an Impressionist approach with visible brushstrokes, an emphasis on light and atmosphere, and a focus on capturing the mood of the landscape rather than fine details. The composition feels fresh and spontaneous, with strong attention to capturing the essence of the scene.

• Good (18-21 points): The painting shows an understanding of the Impressionist style but may be less expressive or spontaneous in places. The brushstrokes and focus on light are present, but the overall effect may be somewhat controlled or lacking in energy.

• Satisfactory (13-17 points): The painting shows some attempts at the Impressionist style, but it may still rely heavily on realistic or detailed rendering. Brushstrokes may be too fine or the emphasis on light and atmosphere may be underdeveloped.

• Needs Improvement (0-12 points): The painting does not effectively reflect the Impressionist style. It may feel more like a traditional, realistic painting, with too much focus on detail and little attention to light or atmosphere.

3. Use of Color and Light (25 Points)

In Impressionism, color and light play key roles in creating mood, atmosphere, and depth. This criterion evaluates how well you use color to convey light and energy in the landscape.

• Excellent (22-25 points): The use of color is vibrant and expressive, with careful attention to how light affects the landscape. Colors are applied in a loose, yet harmonious way, enhancing the mood and atmosphere of the scene. There is a strong contrast between light and shadow, contributing to a dynamic composition.

• Good (18-21 points): Color use is effective, but some areas may be less vibrant or harmonious. The colors do reflect light and shadow, but the contrasts may not be as dramatic or balanced as in higher-level work.

• Satisfactory (13-17 points): The use of color is somewhat muted or lacks variety. The relationship between light and color is weak, and the painting may feel flat or lifeless. The contrasts between light and shadow are underdeveloped.

• Needs Improvement (0-12 points): The color usage is limited or inaccurate. The painting may lack any clear distinction between light and shadow, resulting in a flat or monotone composition.

4. Proportion of Landscape to Canvas (15 Points)

This category evaluates how well the proportions of the landscape elements are balanced in relation to the size of the canvas. The landscape should fill the space appropriately, with attention to depth and perspective.

• Excellent (14-15 points): The landscape is well-proportioned to the canvas, with a thoughtful balance of foreground, middle ground, and background. The composition feels harmonious and makes full use of the space, contributing to a sense of depth and perspective.

• Good (11-13 points): The proportions of the landscape are generally well-balanced, but some areas may feel slightly underdeveloped or disproportionate. Depth and perspective are present but could be more fully realized.

• Satisfactory (8-10 points): The proportions of the landscape are inconsistent, and the composition may feel crowded or too sparse. Some areas may lack depth or a clear sense of spatial relationship.

• Needs Improvement (0-7 points): The landscape feels poorly proportioned, with either too much empty space or overcrowded areas. The composition lacks a clear sense of balance or depth, making it feel flat or disorganized.

5. Effort, Presentation, and Neatness (10 Points)

The final appearance of the painting, including attention to detail and overall presentation, will also be considered in the evaluation.

• Excellent (9-10 points): The painting is well-presented, with careful attention to detail and neatness. The colors are applied cleanly, and there are no visible mistakes or smudges. The painting reflects a high level of effort and care.

• Good (7-8 points): The painting is presented well, with minor imperfections such as slight smudges or uneven brushwork. Overall, the effort is clear, but a few areas could have been refined further.

• Satisfactory (5-6 points): The painting is somewhat rough around the edges, with noticeable imperfections. Some areas may feel unfinished or lacking attention to detail.

• Needs Improvement (0-4 points): The painting lacks neatness, with visible mistakes, smudges, or a lack of attention to detail. The overall presentation feels rushed or incomplete.

Final Score Breakdown:

• Brush Quality and Technique: ___ / 25

• Adherence to Impressionist Style: ___ / 25

• Use of Color and Light: ___ / 25

• Proportion of Landscape to Canvas: ___ / 15

• Effort, Presentation, and Neatness: ___ / 10

Total Points: ___ / 100

Notes for Students:

• Impressionist Style: Focus on capturing the "feel" of the landscape rather than precise detail. Use visible brushstrokes and avoid blending colors too much. The essence of the scene is more important than perfect realism.

• Color and Light: Pay close attention to how light affects the colors in your scene. Look for areas of contrast and how shadows and highlights define forms.

• Brushwork: Experiment with different brushstroke techniques to create texture and interest. Don’t overwork areas—let the strokes remain loose and fresh.

• Proportions: Think about how the elements of the landscape (trees, hills, sky, etc.) fit together. Ensure the landscape is proportionate to the canvas, keeping a good balance between foreground, middle ground, and background.