In the late 19^th century a group of artists, who became known as the Impressionists, created a movement that is still one of the most loved today. Artists such as Monet, Sisley, Renoir, and Degas tried to capture an impression of what they were seeing rather than a replica. They were not as concerned about the detail in what they were seeing as much as the light, colours, and atmosphere. The resulting art attempts to capture a moment in time. One method of painting that became associated with the Impressionists was Pointillism. Developed by Georges Seurat it used small painted dots to build up similar colours that worked together to create an image.

Georges Seurat, La Senna alla Grande Jatte, 1888

ACTIVITY: IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING

Look at some of Georges Seurat’s paintings and discuss with the group how the dots have made up the picture. Draw an image on a piece of paper using only an outline. Then using the end of a matchstick, dip it into some paint and transfer the paint onto the paper, within the outline. Build up the coloured dots to cover the space. You can experiment with different colours, and with spacing out the dots or putting them closer together to create different effects. It’s also a good opportunity to explore mixing colour to create different tones that work well together.

Claude Monet, Meules, 1891

MATERIALS

• Long matchsticks
• Paper
• Pencils
• Assortment of acrylic paints
• Brushes (to mix colours)
• Palettes
• Water pots

Artist Inspiration:

Georges Seurat, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas

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