Art Study: Claude Monet

Art hasn't been a big part of our homeschooling adventure. We've tried different programs, but nothing has clicked or lasted long. C and I enjoy doing crafts, but J not so much and S is just starting to enjoy drawing. So, when I found Harmony Art Mom's free Art and Music Appreciation notebooking pages, I decided to give it another try. We LOVE notebooking!

We read the books Claude Monet: First Impressions by Ann Waldron and Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists: Monet by Mike Venezia, looked at Impressionist paintings in an out-dated wall calendar my mother-in-law gave me, and filled out our notebooking pages.

Here are J's (on the left) and C's (on the right) completed notebooking pages. We LOVED these! Simple, but thorough enough for a beginning Artist Study.

And, after I FINALLY purchased some Tempera paints, the kids, including S, created their own Impressionist-inspired paintings. J and C's notebooking pages are glued to the backs of their paintings and put in plastic page protectors and stored in their 2010-2011 portfolios. Photos: Right: C. Left: J. Bottom: S.


We wrapped up our study of Monet by spending time discussing what Monet painted (i.e. water and the "natural environment"), how his paintings were detailed with colors and various brush strokes, but not sharp, contrasting lines, compared them to various other paintings in different styles, and how to use shading and colors to create a "mood". (Not too bad for someone - ME! - who doesn't know much about this stuff, huh? LOL)

The kids had a BLAST learning about Monet and creating their own works of Art! This was DEFINITELY a wonderful hands-on learning experience for them. Next, Georgia O'Keefe!