Claude Monet’s Skies

Claude Monet’s skies are a masterclass in color and movement. Vivid sunsets, pastel evenings, hazy mornings, booming clouds, and glimmering broken colors.

I put together a collection of my favorites (see below). Here are some key observations from these paintings:

  • He was a master of broken color. His paintings appear to vibrate with all the tiny dabs of distinct color.
  • Contrast (or lack thereof) is key. His sunsets have bright, vivid lights against deep, cool darks. His more subtle evening, foggy, and overcast paintings have relatively little contrast and a tight sense of harmony.
  • Notice the variance of Monet’s subjects. He was constantly pushing and exploring the realms of light, color, and nature. His portfolio broadly captures nature’s many faces.
Claude Monet, Westminster Palace, Sunset, 1900
Claude Monet, Westminster Palace, Sunset, 1900
Claude Monet, San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, Venice, 1908
Claude Monet, San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, Venice, 1908
Claude Monet, Valley of the Creuse, Sunset, 1889
Claude Monet, Valley of the Creuse, Sunset, 1889
Claude Monet, Towing Of a Boat in Honfleur, 1864
Claude Monet, Towing Of a Boat in Honfleur, 1864
Claude Monet, The Beach at Sainte-Adresse, 1876
Claude Monet, The Beach at Sainte-Adresse, 1876
Claude Monet, The Seine at Bougival in the Evening, 1869
Claude Monet, The Seine at Bougival in the Evening, 1869
Claude Monet, The Houses of Parliament, Stormy Sky, 1904
Claude Monet, The Houses of Parliament, Stormy Sky, 1904
Claude Monet, The Houses of Parliament, Reflections on the Thames, 1905
Claude Monet, The Houses of Parliament, Reflections on the Thames, 1905
Claude Monet, Sunset on the Seine in Winter, 1880
Claude Monet, Sunset on the Seine in Winter, 1880
Claude Monet, Seascape, Ships in Moonlight, 1864
Claude Monet, Seascape, Ships in Moonlight, 1864
Claude Monet, Sailboat at Petit-Gennevilliers
Claude Monet, Sailboat at Petit-Gennevilliers
Claude Monet, Regatta at Argenteuil, 1874
Claude Monet, Regatta at Argenteuil, 1874
Claude Monet, Parliament House at Sunset, 1901
Claude Monet, Parliament House at Sunset, 1901
Claude Monet, The Seine at Rouen, 1872
Claude Monet, The Seine at Rouen, 1872
Claude Monet, La Gare Saint-Lazare, Vue Extérieure, 1877
Claude Monet, La Gare Saint-Lazare, Vue Extérieure, 1877
Claude Monet, Haystack, 1891
Claude Monet, Haystack, 1891
Claude Monet, Étretat. Sunset, 1883
Claude Monet, Étretat. Sunset, 1883
Claude Monet, Étretat, The Arch, and the Aval Cliff D, 1885
Claude Monet, Étretat, The Arch, and the Aval Cliff D, 1885
Claude Monet, Coucher de Soleil, c.1868
Claude Monet, Coucher de Soleil, c.1868
Claude Monet, Bridge to Charing Cross, 1901
Claude Monet, Bridge to Charing Cross, 1901
Claude Monet, Etretat, the cliff and the Porte d Aval Sunset, 1883
Claude Monet, Etretat, the cliff and the Porte d Aval Sunset, 1883
Claude Monet, Over the Sea, 1864
Claude Monet, Over the Sea, 1864
Claude Monet, Étretat: The Beach and the Falaise d'Amont, 1885
Claude Monet, Étretat: The Beach and the Falaise d’Amont, 1885
Claude Monet, Charing Cross Bridge, 1903
Claude Monet, Charing Cross Bridge, 1903
Claude Monet, Vetheuil, 1880
Claude Monet, Vetheuil, 1880
Claude Monet, Misty Morning On The Seine, 1897
Claude Monet, Misty Morning On The Seine, 1897
Claude Monet, Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter Effect, 1880
Claude Monet, Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter Effect, 1880
Claude Monet, The Grand Canal 02, 1908
Claude Monet, The Grand Canal 02, 1908
Claude Monet, Sunset at Giverny, 1886
Claude Monet, Sunset at Giverny, 1886

I’ll finish with part of a poem I stumbled across (I’m always surprised at what I find on page 2 of Google):

Life is a canvas, and we’re painting this picture together

Living like we’re living forever…

& Oh darling,

Watch how the years fly by!…

When we’re painting our lives,

Sailing the seas, under perfect Monet skies…

By Albert w. Kang (Read the full peom here.)

Want to Learn More?

You might be interested in my Painting Academy course. I’ll walk you through the time-tested fundamentals of painting. It’s perfect for absolute beginner to intermediate painters.

Thanks for Reading!

I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope you found it helpful. Feel free to share it with friends.

Happy painting!

Dan Scott

Draw Paint Academy

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Dan Scott is the founder of Draw Paint Academy. He's a self-taught artist from Australia with a particular interest in landscape painting. Draw Paint Academy is run by Dan and his wife, Chontele, with the aim of helping you get the most out of the art life. You can read more on the About page.