Paint Like Monet Class Challenge: Monet Winter Haystacks using Broken Color & Scumbling Techniques
Deborah E. Giese after Claude Monet “Stack of Wheat-Thaw Sunset” 1890-91 25” x 36” - Art Institute of Chicago Oil on Linen Board 11 x 14. "This interpretation of Monet's Haystack Stack of Wheat-Thawed Sunset was painted to demonstrate to the class the techniques of Broken Color and Scumbling used by Monet. In addition, other Monet techniques and methods were demonstrated and used on this painting including mixing colors directly onto the canvas and using saturated pigment directly from the tube. Monet painted with large brushes, with loose fast touch or “Cache” mostly horizontal brick strokes for landscape and vertical strokes for subjects, fat on lean, both wet on wet, and/or dry or partially dry paint. Monet harmonized his haystack paintings by using all of the hues on his palette. Monet’s “Haystacks” contain 12 layers of paint starting in plein air and finishing haystack paintings in his studio. This demo painting used all of the techniques and methods above with 3-4 layers of paint.” Deborah E. Giese, Artist – PVAC Instructor |
Julie Robinson after Claude Monet “Grainstacks-Snow Effect” 1890-91 25.5” x 39” - Shelburne Museum- Vermont “I enjoyed studying the painting process of Claude Monet with Debbie Giese’s Water Based Oil Class this past Winter Session at PVAC. It was a refresher for me after studying the Impressionists when in college 35 years ago. I had forgotten about the process of broken color. Revisiting the style of the impressionists, especially that of Monet was like visiting an old friend! The freedom and lightness of Monet’s color pallet coming together to instill the feeling of snow effects on the landscape was surprisingly difficult to reproduce. For me, layering in multiple colors was challenging. Fighting what my brain was telling me of how a snowy landscape should look versus how Monet saw the subject was a challenge. Once I allowed myself to let go of my formed notion of the winter landscape, I was able to paint in the style of this master. Stumbling and broken color is now a friend of my painting process! I really like my final painting. One has to look hard to see all of the multiple colors I used, but they are there-!” -Julie Robinson, Artist |
Dana Russomano after Claude Monet
“Stack of Wheat Snow Effect Overcast Day” 1891 25.9 x 36 - Art Institute of Chicago “The Haystack that I had wasn’t like Monet’s usual color palette. This painting is quite dreary compared to his more dreamy ethereal palette that we associate with Monet. But once I started to dig deep into the composition and zoom into all the details, I could see all the colors he used. I used a lot of yellows and blues in the underpainting because those colors really come through for me. The haystack started as a yellow, green, brown blob to which I added many shades of these colors to give it light and shadow. The greenish yellow color also comes through in the snow as do blue, brown and white, also a touch of pink and orange. The browns show up in the blue mountain scene and the cabins are very simple, made with quick strokes. I feel the sky color is the most Monet style in the painting. There’s a lot of pastel colors in the sky from orange to pink and yellow, and of course light blue. Overall, it was more enjoyable than I first thought it would be. Once I really got into the painting, I was working the whole canvas, adding color everywhere.” -Dana Russomano, Artist. |
Lillian Landivar Torrico after Claude Monet “Stacks of Wheat-Sunset Snow Effect” (1890-91 25.5 x 39.5” Art Institute of Chicago) "As an artist I have been an admirer of Claude Monet for years. I like his prolific body of work, whether his paintings depict his Haystacks, his Seascapes his Cathedrals and his Water Lilies. This time I was honored to create this "Haystack at Sunset" painted in 1891, near the place that he lived, near Giverny. I tried to capture the essence of his painting with the same brushstrokes and "Broken Color" that he used to bring alive the moment in time that he sought in his paintings. It was truly a delight and great experience to do!". Lillian Landivar Torrico ~ Artist. |