ESPN-0236 - Painting like the Impressionists
Course Description
Want to learn to paint like Monet? Through a series of studio projects and demonstrations students will explore impressionist painting techniques. We will look in detail at the work of several key figures in the movement including Monet, Renior, Morisot, Caillebotte, Degas, Cassatt, Pissarro and others. Projects are designed to build confident brush handling and strengthen students understanding of alla prima applications, plein-air painting, colour theory, and observational skill. In our final project students will complete a reproduction of an impressionist painting of their choice. Presentations and group critique will be a central part of this class. It is recommended that students have taken an introductory painting course prior to registering, or have equivalent experience.
In this course, students will learn:
- About the Impressionist movement, brief discussions of its history & associated artists, painting techniques common to the group, goals and focus - “What makes impressionism, impressionism”.
- How to examine another artists work to learn about how it was constructed.
- How to approach painting in an impressionist style, building on introductory “alla prima” paint applications.
- Colour theory, direct colour mixing, optical mixing, rendering light and shadow.
- How to paint an impressionist style still-life, landscape, portrait, and figure study.
- Brush handling, expressive mark making, “loose painting” techniques.
- How to simplify complex subjects
- How to paint “en plein-air”, or painting outdoors on site with an easel.
Artwork by Jack Ross
