Start at Home No. 102 - Impressionism

Paint the Moment!

Camille Pissarro and Frederick McCubbin

Camille Pissarro was a French artist who helped start Impressionism. He painted outdoors to capture light, air, and colour in nature. He used tiny brushstrokes and dots of colour to make scenes look bright and glowing. His painting Prairie à Éragny (1886) shows a lively landscape filled with pink, green and blue tones, painted in quick brushstrokes to create a sense of light and movement. Frederick McCubbin was an Australian artist known for painting the bush and natural landscapes. His work The Setting Sun (1911) shows a calm seascape at dusk. He uses warm light, soft colours, and oil paint on wood to create a peaceful, atmospheric mood.

Question:

  • Why do you think Camille Pissarro liked painting outside instead of inside a studio?
  • What colours would you use to paint a quiet sunset like Fredrick McCubbin did?
  • Impressionist artists broke the rules of traditional art. Instead of painting perfect, detailed pictures in studios, they went outside to paint (en-plein air) real life quickly and freely.
  1. Choose your scene. Pick a simple outdoor view (a garden, tree, sky, or park). You can look outside or use a photo.
  2. Get paint, paper, brushes, and cotton buds (or use your fingertips).
  3. Look closely at colours. Notice the different colours in your scene (not just green—maybe yellow-green, blue-green, purples etc…)
  4. Set a timer (15–20 minutes). Paint quickly! Don’t stop to fix mistakes.
  5. Start with dots and small strokes. Use tiny dabs, dots, and short brushstrokes to build your picture.
  6. Mix colours as you go. Try placing different bright colours next to each other instead of fully mixing them. For example purple against orange.
  7. Focus on movement and feeling. Think about how the scene feels (windy, sunny, calm) and show that with your marks.
  8. Don’t worry about details. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just capture the moment.
  9. Try it again at a different time of day. Paint the same scene later or earlier (morning vs sunset) and compare the colours and mood.

Take it further

Turn it into a mini art series. Make 3–6 paintings of the same view and display them together like a gallery. Give your series a title (e.g., “My Changing Garden”).

You will need:

  • Paper or a canvas board
  • Paint (acrylic or poster paint works well)
  • Paintbrushes (small and medium)
  • Cotton buds (Q-tips) or fingertips for dot painting
  • Palette or plate for mixing colours
  • Cup of water (for rinsing brushes)
  • Paper towel or cloth
  • Pencil (optional, for light sketching)
  • Timer (phone or clock)