Born in Paris, 1840, Claude Monet is one of the major figures associated with Impressionism. First noted for his caricatures, sketching locals in Le Havre where he grew up, a local landscape artist Eugene Boudin encouraged him to paint en plein air. “Now I grasped what painting could be” wrote Monet.

He studied in Paris at the Academie Suisse, a free studio where artists had a space to work and share ideas. There he met Pissarro and later Renoir and Sisley who were part of the future group of Impressionists. Together they journeyed to the Normandy coast, forests and the banks of the Seine where they could paint en plein air, observing movement in nature and variation of light. On a quest to get closer to nature, Monet converted a barge into a floating studio. At the time it was a radical notion to set up easels and paint outdoors.

From 1860, he submitted work to the annual Salon exhibitions. His style was more realistic at this point depicting coastal scenes and figures in fashionable clothing, similar to work of the more established artist, Edouard Manet. In 1866 he exhibited ‘Woman in a Green Dress’ at the Salon, but was rejected every year after and actually stopped submitting for a decade. In 1870 he discovered the paintings of Turner at the National Gallery while staying in London.

In 1874 with artists including Renoir, Berthe Morisot and Pissarro, he established an association of independent artists and they staged the first Impressionist Exhibition. The criticism of the work was harsh, and it was a financial disaster, yet they staged another seven exhibitions over 12 years. The determination to show their work and gain recognition always rallied the group.

Claude Monet ‘La plage de Trouville’ , 1870

Their resilience paid off, as development came in the international art market and various galleries purchased and exhibited his work. In 1883 he settled in Giverny, and finally was able to paint without fearing financial hardship. He bought his house in 1890 and established his garden and water lily pond with the japanese bridge. Inspiration was now at his door and always available to paint, however quickly the light changes.

Smaller canvases were preferred, as more could be carried to the painting site. Many paintings were worked on at once as the light or weather changed. The time of day was written on the back of the canvas so it could be returned to when the light and weather was similar.

His brush marks became freer and more expressive in the 1880s. A newly available flat brush enabled different brush marks to be made. Areas are defined and refined with a pattern of marks to suggest textures.

In 1927 just a few months after Monet’s death, his final large panel paintings were installed in a specially designed gallery - The Orangerie in the Tuileries gardens.

Would you love to paint like Monet? Join us for our 10 week All-Abilities course and explore wide range of mediums and artistic styles. These art classes are suitable for all abilities, including complete beginners. We explore everything from architecture to portraits, using pencils, charcoal, pastels, watercolour, gouache and acrylics.

Claude Monet

Andy Warhol

Gustav Klimt