Impressionism

The best way to describe Impressionism is to show you... Which one of these paintings is realism and which is impressionist? Can you spot the difference? Do you know the names and artists of these two paintings?

How about these paintings, which is the Impressionism piece?

The one on the left is a realism painting by Johannes Vermeer a Dutch Painter "Girl with the Pearl Earring" 1665, the painting on the right is the Impressionism painting by Edgar Degas "The Star" 1878

This art change was considered a significant movement at the time for acceptable painting in Europe culture. Impressionism was a new movement in art painting in late 19th century (1870s-1900s) that truly changed art for many years to come.

Prior to Impressionism, the art in museums were of realistic "photo like" paintings that were very sharp, clear and precise. Several artists Monet, Renoir, Manet, Degas, and Sisley put on their own show with a new way to do art. This had never been done before. The work that these artists produced was different than people were used to in Europe. Previously “serious” artists blended their colors and tried to hide the brushstrokes the paintbrush makes. They wanted the paintings to look real and proper. These new artists showed paintings with images of ordinary people doing ordinary things that were blurry and unclear. This kind of artwork was initially viewed as fake or impressionistic of real art and soon people were making fun of them. Claude Monet took the criticism in stride and named his painting "Impression Sunrise". The artists were called “Impressionists” at the time meaning they had less skill, were messy and were doing an impression of a real painting. Although the word “Impressionist” started out as a mean word, the art started to became very popular! People started to see their own images using imagination in the art work and it became very appealing to many. Impressionism became the very popular and was no longer considered a lesser art because many people started to see it in a new creative way.

Because the artists worked hard, had GRIT, and used creativity, this group of Impressionist artists formed a whole new art movement and changed art history! They continued to show their work for many years in the most famous museums and inspired new artists to follow their form. Today these paintings are likely the most famous works of art admired worldwide and sell for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Soon after Impressionism there were Post Impressionist Painters... they were very similar to Impressionist Painters in that their style was blurry as well including Pizarro, Vincent Van Gogh, Seurat, and Paul Cezanne.

Project Description:

As Horizon students, you have been introduced to Monet with pastels (in 1st grade) and Van Gogh with paint (in Kinder and 4th) and some painting in pointilism by Seurat. Today you can do impression work with dots or brush strokes but the key here is it has to be a sun!!! And, we want to see different shades with light and dark colors to show reflection of light. The key to this project is not REALISM not precise lines but blurry with brushstrokes shown.

Step 1 - Using a color (any color) paint your impression (blurry) sun. Sun should fill about 1/3 of the paper once finished.

Step 2: Add in the dark deep colors like the dark blue or red all around in splotches, dots, strokes. I suggest some some sort of pattern or flow but be free.

Step 3: Mix white in with your paint and make lighter shades of the same colors and blend them in with more strokes right on top and next to them.

Step 4: Keep filling in with different shades of your same colors till complete. Then, let the area in the middle or center dry for at least 2-3 minutes while you work on the outside areas of the paper. Then, you can add some details with dots, thin lines, or something different in the stroke of the brush or dot of the Qtip and additional colors you wish.

Fifth grade examples last year!

Inspiration Sun Art - These use different mediums but give ideas on how impressionism (brushes, blurs and dots) can easy be used in shades to create unique sun art.

Parent setup: Each student will receive a paper plate with red, blue, yellow and white paint (red/blue dime size spot and yellow/white quarter size). Qtips (about 4-6 per student) and brush and water cup to share. Once students are done with their creation the plates and Qtips can be tossed for ease of cleanup but brushes returned clean. Name labels on the back right away once the student says vertical or horizontal.

Supplies:

• Name labels on back right away (it won't stick on wet paper),
• 9x6 (9x12 in half) tag board
• A paper plate with paint (quater size white, yellow paint and dime size red, blue paint)
• Brushes and Qtips and water cups
• Dry Racks