Monet Art Projects for Middle School

Using tools that painters like Monet favored can make art more tangible to students.

Claude Monet, who is considered the founder of French impressionism, was born in 1840 and died in 1926 from lung cancer. Monet studied at the LeHavre Secondary School of the Arts in 1851 and became known for his charcoal paintings. In later life, Monet served in the army, but was released when he contracted typhoid. Monet studied in Paris and met other impressionist painters. Monet's works, including "Camille" and "The Woman in the Green Dress," brought him widespread recognition. Today, students in middle school often study Claude Monet and French impressionism in art class.

Timeline

Create a timeline of Monet's life and outline the dates of major paintings produced by Monet. This timeline can be created in small groups or as a class. Students may also add information on other painters who Monet met in his lifetime.

Reproduction

Have students study some of Monet's artwork and carefully examine the elements, such as style, shapes, lighting and the color palette. Students should choose one Monet painting to reproduce, using the same elements Monet used in his work.

Field Trip

Take a field trip to an art museum and study Claude Monet and other impressionist artists. If a museum is not nearby, investigate online museums to view images of Monet's paintings.

In Writing

Study some of Monet's paintings when he was with Camille outside of Paris. During this time, he painted "On the Bank of the Siene" and "The Bennecourt." Examine the paintings and analyze his work, describing it in writing and how the elements came together to result in an aesthetically pleasing work of art.

Color Combinations

Painters during French impressionism often explored the science of color perception and the mixing of colors. Students can examine a painting by Monet and discuss how light strikes objects. Namely, some light is reflected while other areas may be darker. Combinations of colors often create a different palette or hues outside of the primary colors or color wheel. Secondary colors are created by mixing pairs of primary colors. For instance, orange, green and purple are considered secondary colors because they are mixed. Understanding color combinations, lighting and how we perceive hues can help students understand blending and artistic style.

References

• Ibiblio Paris Webmuseum: Claude Monet
• Art Institute of Chicago: Impressionist Lesson Plans