{"id":143763,"date":"2015-04-24T15:40:28","date_gmt":"2015-04-24T14:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/?p=143763"},"modified":"2026-09-21T15:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T14:51:36","slug":"impressionist-painting-techniques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/24\/impressionist-painting-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"Impressionist Painting Techniques"},"content":{"rendered":"

Impressionism might be the most recognisable painting style in the history of art. The Impressionists\u2019 first exhibition was held in April 1874 and marked a turning point in art history. Before writing this article, I had a general idea of what Impressionism was, but as I researched further, I discovered more about why these artists were true pioneers and the significance of what they were trying to achieve. I thought I would see if I could paint in the style of the Impressionists by following their philosophy and exploring some of their painting techniques.<\/p>\n

Above image: Cliffs at Pourville<\/em>, 1882, Claude Monet. National Gallery of Art<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n

\n
\"Stacks<\/a>
Stacks of Wheat (Sunset, Snow Effect)<\/em>, 1890-91
Claude Monet
Oil on canvas, 65.3 x 100.4 cm | 25.7 x 39.5 in
Art Institute of Chicago<\/a><\/small>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What the Impressionists Were Trying to Achieve<\/h2>\n

Many art historians consider Impressionism to be the first distinctly modern movement in painting. It started in the 1860s in Paris and the ideas of the movement spread throughout Europe and eventually to the United States. Instead of the photo-quality realism of a highly blended finish with invisible brush strokes that was the accepted manner of painting at the time, Impressionists aimed to capture the momentary, fleeting effect of a scene on the eye, especially the effects of light. Because they were interested in light, these artists left the studio and began painting en plein air<\/a><\/em>. The Impressionists had less time to mix colour and painted quickly to keep up with the ever-changing daylight. This resulted in work with loose brushwork that looked un-finished or messy compared to the accepted work of the time.<\/p>\n

\"For\u00eat<\/a>
For\u00eat de Compi\u00e8gne<\/em>, 1885
Berthe Morisot
Oil on canvas, 54.2 x 64.8 cm | 21.3 x 25.5 in
Art Institute Chicago<\/a><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The work was so different to what was considered accomplished artwork at the time that they were ridiculed. The term ‘Impressionist’ was first used as an insult by an art critic at the exhibition of new paintings in Paris in 1874. The insult referred to a work by Monet which was entitled Impression, sunrise<\/a><\/em>. A reviewer of the first exhibition described the painters as ‘lunatics’. It makes me think of the common complaint we hear today that contemporary artists have no skill, or are simply trying to put one over on the public. Radical ideas and change require time to be accepted.<\/p>\n

The Artists Associated With the Impressionist Movement<\/h2>\n

Some of the most famous artists associated with the Impressionist movement are: Claude Monet<\/a>, Eugene Boudin, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, \u00c9douard Manet<\/a>, Edgar Degas<\/a>, Paul Cezanne, Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot<\/a>, and Mary Cassatt. <\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/a>
Woman Reading<\/em>, 1880-82
\u00c9douard Manet
Oil on canvas,
61.2 x 50.7 cm | 24 x 20 in
Art Institute Chicago<\/a><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They were interested in painting everyday reality instead of monumental scenes. The Impressionists redefined what it meant to capture reality by focusing on a specific moment in time: the light as it appears now, compared with how it might look an hour later. There was also the idea of painting the impression of a first glance at something. When we look at a landscape, or a crowd of people, we do not instantly see every face or leaf in detailed focus, but as a mass of colour and light. Impressionist painters tried to express this experience. <\/p>\n

They were also affected by the scientific discoveries of the time about optics and light. They were interested in visible light reflected from a surface, and wanted to show the surface of objects.<\/p>\n

\"Pont<\/a>
Pont Neuf, Paris<\/em>, 1872
Auguste Renoir
Oil on canvas, 75.3 x 93.7 cm | 29.6 x 36.9 in
National Gallery of Art<\/a><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Techniques of the Impressionists<\/h2>\n

The painting techniques that they used to achieve their ideas were fairly consistent:<\/p>\n