How to Oil Paint Like Monet

Monet's "Le Parlement, Effet de Brouillard" (1903).

Claude Monet was a French painter and pioneer of the Impressionist movement, in which artists attempted to depict real and natural life in terms of tonality and light, according to WebMuseum. Impressionism became a major art movement during the late 19th century. Monet often used outdoor subjects in his paintings, the most famous of which were "Waterlilies" and "Houses of Parliament." To capture and adopt Monet's style of painting takes much practice and a few oil painting techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Oil paint
• Canvas
• Paint brush
• Water

Instructions

1. Study Monet's paintings and note the color palette. Monet's choice of colors, according to the Explore Drawing and Painting website, include white, chrome yellow, cadmium yellow, viridian green, emerald green, French ultramarine, cobalt blue, madder red and vermilion. These oil paint colors can be found in any art supply store

2. Practice and use the color-mixing technique Monet used. Paint a line of two colors together and notice how it creates a vibrant color in between. For example, painting a yellow and red together creates a bright red color in between. Also, lay down a mass of vibrant color, followed by pure color on top, wet color on wet color. Or use scrumbling, a technique Monet used by adding wet color spots on dry color layers for texture.

3. Find a subject to paint, preferably outdoor still life. Look out your window and find something that interests you visually. Use a canvas in a size of your choice.

4. Wet your brush with diluted oil paint. Outline the large, basic shapes of your still life onto the canvas, which will serve as a basic "underpainting." Start painting over this underpainting. Let this initial layer dry for a day or two.

5. Use oil paint on a dry paint brush for the next layer. Use the scrumbling paint technique you practiced previously, using short strokes or dabs for texture. Take note of how natural light plays on your subject; mix in lighter colors on the lit side, with darker colors for shade immediately behind it.

6. Take your time. You do need not finish a painting in one session, as Monet never did. Monet often would work on a few paintings at a time and allow them to dry for one or two days between sessions, according to the Explore Drawing and Painting website.

References

• Web Museum Paris: Impressionism
• Explore Drawing and Painting: How to Paint Like Monet

Resources

• Inter Monet
• Art of Monet
• Sennelier Artists' Extra Fine Oil Paint Set