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.
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