Impressionism

Impressionist was
coined by art critic
making an ironic
reference to Claude
Monets painting
Impression: Sunrise
The tile of the work lets us know that the main
concern of the artist was to represent a
sunrisenot to duplicate a sunrise

it was to give the impression of a sunrise

 When Impressionism started at art schools and

tradition of painting dictated what a painting
should look like
Many people did not like impressionism and
thought is was ridiculous because it was not a
true representation
The main goal of the Impressionists was to
capture a moment of time in lightthe passing of
time and weather and how light effects form and
color. The play of light on a landscape

Impressionism
Believed that feelings and
emotions should be
emphasized
Believed that design and
mood were important
features
Used lines and patches of
color making the art look
almost like a puzzle

The Characteristics of an Impressionist Painting

Light and the spontaneous

use of marks
Paint applied in small
splashes of color
Absence of precise contours
Clear colors
Outdoor subjects

The Impact of Impressionism

By focusing on lights
effect on form and getting
away from subject
representation, the
Impressionists
unknowingly opened the
door to twentieth-century
art, which moved away
from the imitation of
nature.

Vincent van Gogh

Starry Night
An Artist will use the
direction of line and mark to
give a sense of movement
to artwork
An artist uses different
types of balance to make
an artwork more dynamic
and interesting.

Balance is a principle of Art that uses arrangements so

no one part overpowers another
asymmetrical balance uses two unlike items that carry
equal weight

symmetrical balance: you can draw a line down the

center of the artwork and both sides are relatively the same

Vocabulary of Impressionism Unit

symmetrical balance: you can draw a line down the center of the
artwork and both sides are relatively the same
Balance: is a principle of Art that uses arrangements so no one part
overpowers another
Asymmetrical balance: uses two unlike items that carry equal weight
Movement: how an artist makes our eyes travel around an artworks
edges and lines
Repetition: To repeat (like a pattern) through color, texture, value
creating rhythm.
Color: A visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise
identical objects or how an object absorbs and reflects light
Texture: The way an object feels when you touch it. Texture can be real
(actual) or fake (implied)

Impressionist Landscape
Learning Intention: I will draw an imaginary landscape using
oil pastels. I will focus on blending techniques, composition
and balance while using an Impressionist artistic style. I will
evaluate and critique my success.
Success Criteria:

Completed 3 planning sketches.

Decide what sort of balance my piece will use.
Create a sense of movement with my marks, line, and color
Composition is completely filled in, no white paper visible.
Multiple layers of color on top of solid background color.
I demonstrate self motivation & independence.
I show commitment to good/clean craftsmanship.