Example of Impressionist painting techniques.
Impressionism is a Paris-based art movement that developed in the 19th century. The name is derived from Claude Monet's painting "Impression, Sunrise." Impressionism is characterized by ordinary subject matter, focus on accurate lighting, thin but visible brush strokes and an emphasis on motion and nontraditional angles. If you want to paint in a similar fashion to Impressionists, composition and brushwork are the most important factors.
Instructions
1. Set up your canvas. Most Impressionist painters worked outdoors or painted outdoor scenes.
2. Choose the composition of your painting. Impressionist paintings focus on unusual, accurate lighting and movement.
3. Paint quickly and aim to finish your painting in one sitting.
4. Use thick, short strokes of the brush. Impressionists used the impasto technique, which entails applying the paint very thickly to the canvas. The dried paint creates a raised, textured effect. Impasto also creates the feeling of movement in the painting.
5. Apply paint in layers while the paint is still wet. Applying new layers over wet paint creates a soft, rounded look to the edges.
6. Avoid black paint and strong lines. Impressionists did not used black paint in their work. Monet created shadows using violet or indigo hues.
