Micro Monet in a Day: Oil Pastel Seminar

Full Instructor's Lesson Plan (3-Hour Workshop)

Workshop Overview

Title: Micro Monet in a Day: Capturing Light & Reflection in Oil Pastels
Duration: 3 hours
Maximum Students: 10
Level: All levels welcome
Focus: Seine River reflections using Monet's impressionist techniques adapted for oil pastels

SECTION 1: Understanding Monet's Technique & Vision (30 minutes)

Part A: Introduction to Monet's Revolutionary Approach (15 minutes)

Core Principles of Monet's Technique:

Broken Color Theory
- Monet avoided mixing colors on the palette, instead placing pure colors side-by-side
- The eye blends the colors optically when viewed from a distance
- This creates vibration, luminosity, and atmospheric depth
Light as Subject
- Monet painted the effect of light rather than objects themselves
- He captured specific moments: dawn, midday, dusk, fog, bright sun
- Colors shift dramatically based on atmospheric conditions
Rapid, Gestural Brushwork
- Quick, loose strokes that capture impression rather than detail
- Directional marks that follow form and movement
- Layering of strokes to build depth and complexity
Reflections as Abstract Pattern
- Water reflections are darker, softer versions of what's above
- Reflections break apart with water movement
- Horizontal strokes for water; vertical elements reflect and distort

Part B: Monet's Seine River Palette Analysis (15 minutes)

Deep Dive: "Morning on the Seine" Series (1896-1897)

Monet's Color Families for Water Reflections:

Sky & Atmospheric Colors:

Pale lavender-blues (cobalt + white + touch of rose)
Peachy-pinks (Naples yellow + vermillion + white)
Soft mint-greens (viridian + white + yellow ochre)
Pearl grays (blue + burnt sienna + white)

Water Colors:

Deep teal-blues (Prussian blue + viridian)
Violet-grays (ultramarine + burnt sienna + white)
Greenish-blues (cerulean + emerald + touches of yellow)
Reflective highlights (pure white + pale yellow)

Foliage Colors:

Bright emerald greens (viridian + cadmium yellow)
Deep forest greens (viridian + ultramarine + yellow ochre)
Purple-tinged shadows (ultramarine + alizarin + green)
Yellow-green highlights (cadmium yellow + viridian + white)

Recommended Oil Pastel Palette (Sennelier or equivalent):

Titanium white (multiple sticks - most used!)
Pale blue-violet
Cobalt blue
Prussian blue
Cerulean blue
Emerald green
Viridian green
Olive green
Yellow-green
Naples yellow
Cadmium yellow light
Vermillion/coral pink
Rose/magenta
Violet
Raw sienna
Burnt sienna
Warm gray
Cool gray

SECTION 2: Material Setup & Reference Selection (15 minutes)

Demonstration: Preparing Your Surface

Show primed vs. textured paper options
Demonstrate toning paper with light wash (optional: pale blue-gray)
Explain why texture matters for oil pastels

Reference Image Selection

Provide printed reference options of Monet's Seine paintings:

"Morning on the Seine near Giverny" (1897)
"Arm of the Seine near Giverny" (1897)
"The Seine at Port-Villez" (1894)

Students select their reference or work from the demonstration painting.

Composition Sketching

Very light outline with pale pastel or charcoal
Block in major shapes: sky, treeline, water, reflections
Mark horizon line (typically upper third of composition)
Indicate light source direction

SECTION 3: Instructor Demonstration - Building the Painting (45 minutes)

Painting Sequence Demonstration (following Monet's approach):

Step 1: Establish the Sky (8 minutes)

Start with lightest values
Apply pale blue-violet horizontally across upper canvas
Add peachy-pink near horizon
Blend gently with fingertip using circular, light motions
Keep edges soft and atmospheric
Leave some paper texture visible

Key Teaching Point: "Monet's skies are never one color—they're a symphony of subtle shifts. Use 3-5 colors minimum."

Step 2: Block in Water - Base Layer (10 minutes)

Mirror sky colors but darker, richer
Horizontal strokes are essential for water
Apply mid-tone blues and greens
Don't blend completely—allow colors to remain distinct
Water should be slightly darker than sky in most cases

Key Teaching Point: "Water is a mirror, but a broken, darkened mirror. Your strokes should be horizontal to suggest the water plane."

Step 3: Paint the Treeline/Foliage (12 minutes)

Use various greens: emerald, forest, olive, yellow-green
Vertical dabbing strokes for tree texture
Add purple-blue shadows under foliage masses
Keep edges soft and unfocused
Suggest form rather than defining it
Add touches of pink, blue, and yellow within greens

Key Teaching Point: "Monet's trees are made of broken color—green, blue, purple, pink all live together. Avoid solid blocks of color."

Step 4: Create Reflections (10 minutes)

Reflections are directly below their sources
Use same colors as trees but darker, less saturated
Vertical strokes that blur into horizontal water
Break up reflections with horizontal water movement
Reflections should be softer, vaguer than objects above

Key Teaching Point: "Reflections are ghosts of what's above. They stretch vertically then dissolve into horizontal ripples."

Step 5: Light Effects & Final Details (5 minutes)

Add bright highlights where light hits water (pure white + pale yellow)
Create sparkle with small gestural marks
Soften any harsh edges throughout
Add atmospheric haze by lightly blending certain areas
Step back—add any final color notes

Key Teaching Point: "The final touches are about light. Where does the sun kiss the water? Those are your brightest, purest whites."

SECTION 4: Guided Student Painting (60 minutes)

Students work on their own paintings while instructor circulates.

Timing Recommendations for Students:

Sky: 12 minutes
Water base: 15 minutes
Foliage/trees: 18 minutes
Reflections: 12 minutes
Light & refinement: 8 minutes

Instructor Circulates with Focus on:

Color mixing directly on paper
Appropriate pressure (light for blending, firm for color deposit)
Horizontal vs. vertical stroke direction
Avoiding overworking/muddying
Maintaining broken color approach
Achieving soft, atmospheric edges

Common Issues to Address:

Too much blending → Encourage leaving distinct color strokes
Colors too saturated → Add white, gray, or complementary colors
Reflections too crisp → Soften with horizontal strokes
Water looks vertical → Emphasize horizontal stroke direction
Everything in focus → Create hierarchy with soft/sharp areas

SECTION 5: Refinement & Critique (25 minutes)

Individual Consultations (15 minutes)

Quick one-on-one feedback for each student
Identify strengths in each piece
Suggest 1-2 specific improvements
Demonstrate quick fixes as needed

Group Critique & Discussion (10 minutes)

Display all paintings together
Discuss collective successes
Highlight variety in interpretations
Compare to original Monet references
Discuss how oil pastels capture impressionist spirit

Discussion Questions:

"How did working with oil pastels change your experience of impressionism?"
"What surprised you about Monet's color choices?"
"Where do you see light working in your painting?"

SECTION 6: Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)

Care & Preservation

How to fix oil pastel paintings (spray fixative in ventilated area)
Framing behind glass to prevent smudging
Store flat with glassine paper protecting surface

Continuing the Practice

Encourage painting same scene at different times of day
Try Monet's serial approach (haystacks, poplars, water lilies)
Practice broken color technique in daily sketches

Farewell

Group photo with paintings
Provide resource handout
Invite questions

Materials List for Students

Required Materials (provided or bring your own):

Set of soft oil pastels (minimum 24 colors; Sennelier, Caran d'Ache, or Holbein recommended)
Textured pastel paper, 9x12" or 11x14" (Canson Mi-Teintes, Strathmore pastel paper)
Paper towels or rags
Printed reference image
Fixative spray (instructor provides for group use)

Optional Materials:

Blending stumps or tortillons
Kneaded eraser for corrections
Apron or old shirt (oil pastels can be messy)

Full Technical Analysis: Monet's Seine River Reflections

Compositional Structure

The Monet Formula for Water Reflections:

Horizon Placement: Typically upper third, creating emphasis on water
Symmetrical Asymmetry: Reflections mirror reality but break apart
Atmospheric Perspective: Elements soften with distance
Cropped Edges: Trees/banks often cut off, creating intimacy
No Sky/Much Water: Often 2/3 water, 1/3 land/sky

Color Temperature Strategy

Monet's Temperature Shifts:

Warm light = cool shadows (morning/evening)
Cool light = warm shadows (overcast/midday)
Water is generally cooler than land
Reflections shift slightly cooler and less saturated
Atmospheric haze cools distant elements

Stroke Direction & Pattern

Monet's Directional Language:

Sky: Horizontal, soft, blended strokes
Water surface: Predominantly horizontal
Reflections: Begin vertical, dissolve to horizontal
Foliage: Multidirectional dabs, vertical emphasis
Light on water: Short, broken, horizontal dashes

The Seine Series Specifics (1896-1897)

Monet's Morning on the Seine paintings show:

Misty, diffused light of early morning
Near-monochromatic color schemes (blues, violets, greens)
Maximum softness—almost no hard edges
Water and sky nearly merge
Extreme subtlety in value shifts
Meditative, quiet mood

Time of day signatures:

Dawn: Lavender-pink, cool blues, extreme softness
Morning: Yellow-greens, warm light, gentle contrasts
Midday: Brightest colors, strongest contrasts
Evening: Gold-orange light, purple shadows, warm glow

Adaptation to Oil Pastels

Why Oil Pastels Suit Monet's Technique:

Blendability: Fingertip blending mimics Monet's soft edges
Layering: Build rich color through layering like Monet's paint layers
Broken Color: Pastels naturally create broken color effects
Immediacy: Quick, direct application captures spontaneity
Richness: Oil pastels have paint-like saturation

Challenges & Solutions:

Challenge: Can get muddy with overworking
- Solution: Work light to dark, limit blending passes
Challenge: Hard to get crisp details
- Solution: Use pastel edges, embrace softness
Challenge: Colors can feel chalky
- Solution: Layer colors, use white sparingly in layers

Teaching Philosophy for This Workshop

Core Principles:

Process Over Perfection: Emphasis on experiencing Monet's approach, not creating masterpieces
Broken Color Courage: Encourage students to leave colors unblended
Light as Feeling: Teach students to paint the mood of light, not just colors
Atmospheric Thinking: Everything is seen through air—soften, soften, soften
Embrace Happy Accidents: Oil pastels create beautiful surprises

Instructor Mantras to Repeat:

"If you can see it from 6 feet away, it works"
"Monet wouldn't blend that much"
"Add another color—it's never just one"
"Soften that edge"
"Water is horizontal"

End of Instructor's Full Lesson Plan

STUDENT HANDOUT

Micro Monet in a Day

Oil Pastel Workshop - Seine River Reflections

Welcome to your impressionist painting experience! Today you'll explore Claude Monet's revolutionary techniques using soft oil pastels to create your own Seine River reflection painting.

Monet's Essential Techniques

Broken Color

Place pure colors side-by-side without mixing
Let the viewer's eye blend colors optically
Creates vibration and luminosity

Capture Light, Not Objects

Paint the effect of light on things, not the things themselves
Notice how colors shift in different light
Atmosphere is as important as subject matter

Loose, Gestural Application

Quick, confident strokes
Suggest rather than define
Let texture show through

Reflections as Pattern

Reflections are darker, softer versions of reality
They break apart with water movement
Begin vertical, dissolve to horizontal

Your Painting Sequence (3 Hours)

Step 1: Sky (12 minutes)

Start light! Use pale blues, violets, peachy-pinks
Horizontal strokes, gentle blending
3-5 colors minimum—skies are never one color
Keep edges soft

Step 2: Water Base (15 minutes)

Mirror sky colors but richer, darker
HORIZONTAL STROKES are essential
Don't over-blend—leave color strokes visible
Water slightly darker than sky

Step 3: Foliage & Trees (18 minutes)

Use multiple greens: emerald, forest, olive, yellow-green
Add blues, purples, even pinks within greens
Vertical dabbing strokes for texture
Keep edges soft and atmospheric
Suggest form, don't define every leaf

Step 4: Reflections (12 minutes)

Use same colors as trees but darker
Vertical strokes that blur into horizontal
Break up with horizontal water movement
Reflections are softer, vaguer than objects above
They're ghosts, not copies

Step 5: Light & Final Touches (8 minutes)

Add bright highlights where sun hits water
Pure white + pale yellow for sparkle
Soften any harsh edges
Add atmospheric haze
Step back and assess from distance

Monet's Seine River Palette

Sky & Atmosphere: Pale blue-violet • Peachy-pink • Soft mint-green • Pearl gray

Water: Deep teal-blue • Violet-gray • Greenish-blue • Reflective highlights

Foliage: Bright emerald • Deep forest green • Purple shadows • Yellow-green highlights

Your Oil Pastel Colors: Titanium white (LOTS!) • Pale blue-violet • Cobalt blue • Prussian blue • Cerulean blue • Emerald green • Viridian • Olive green • Yellow-green • Naples yellow • Cadmium yellow • Coral pink • Rose/magenta • Violet • Raw sienna • Burnt sienna • Warm gray • Cool gray

Pro Tips for Success

✓ Step back frequently - If it looks good from 6 feet, it works!

✓ Less blending, more layering - Let distinct color strokes show

✓ Horizontal for water - Always! This creates the water plane

✓ Soft edges everywhere - Monet rarely used hard edges

✓ Light touch for blending - Firm pressure for color deposit

✓ White is your friend - Use it to lighten and soften

✓ When in doubt, add another color - Monet used dozens of colors in small areas

✗ Avoid over-working - Oil pastels get muddy if you blend too much

✗ Don't outline - Suggest edges with color shifts

✗ Skip details - We're after impression and atmosphere

Stroke Direction Guide

Sky: → → → (Horizontal, blended)

Water: → → → (Horizontal, layered)

Reflections: ↓ then → (Vertical dissolving to horizontal)

Trees: ↑↓ • • • (Vertical dabs, multidirectional)

Light on water: - - - (Short horizontal dashes)

Key Monet Principles

"I would like to paint as a bird sings." - Claude Monet

Color Temperature: Warm light = cool shadows (and vice versa)

Atmospheric Perspective: Distant elements are softer, cooler, less detailed

Serial Vision: Monet painted the same scene many times at different hours

No Black: Use dark blues, purples, and greens instead

Paint What You See, Not What You Know: The river isn't just blue—look deeper!

After the Workshop

Preserving Your Painting:

Spray with fixative in a well-ventilated area
Frame behind glass to prevent smudging
Store flat with glassine paper protection

Continue Your Practice:

Paint the same scene at different times of day
Try Monet's serial approach (same subject, different conditions)
Practice broken color in daily sketches
Visit impressionist exhibitions for inspiration

Recommended Viewing:

"Morning on the Seine" series (1896-1897)
"Water Lilies" series
"Rouen Cathedral" series (to see his serial approach)

Your Monet Journey Starts Today

Remember: Impressionism is about capturing a fleeting moment, a feeling, an atmosphere. Don't aim for perfection—aim for impression. Trust your eye, trust the process, and most importantly, enjoy the experience of seeing the world through Monet's eyes.

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment." - Claude Monet

Workshop Materials: ☐ Soft oil pastels (24+ colors) ☐ Textured pastel paper (9x12" or 11x14") ☐ Paper towels/rags ☐ Reference image ☐ Apron (oil pastels can be messy!)

Take home today: • Your finished Monet-inspired painting • New understanding of impressionist techniques • Confidence with oil pastels • A different way of seeing light and color

Enjoy your Micro Monet experience!

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Saturday, November 15, 2025

Tucson ART lessons: Micro Monet in a Day: Oil Pastel Seminar