November 7, 2023
Resources for Color Diffusion Project
NEW: a rotating group of artists and art educators will be bringing you high quality art projects and lessons at Outside the Box Creation! October's project is Jackie Friel's second project as an Artist in Residence with us: color diffusion & transfer with bleeding tissue paper!
DOWNLOAD YOUR PROJECT PLANSetting the Stage
The Houses of Parliament, by Claude Monet, oil on canvas, painted in 1903.
Bridge Over a Pond of Water, by Claude Monet, oil on canvas, painted in 1899.
October's project explores the artistic technique of atmospheric perspective! First, let's explore what that means and why it matters.
Today, we're going to delve into the captivating world of Claude Monet and his mesmerizing technique known as "color diffusion."
Claude Monet, a renowned French painter who lived from 1840 to 1926, possessed a remarkable talent for using colors in a unique way. Instead of merely using one color for an object, he would employ multiple colors to bring his paintings to life.
Monet is celebrated for his masterful depictions of gardens, ponds, and water lilies. But what truly made his art magical?
He utilized a special technique called "color diffusion."
Imagine dipping a paintbrush in water and then gently touching it to a damp piece of paper. The colors would spread and blend harmoniously, creating ethereal and dreamlike patterns. Monet harnessed this technique to craft scenes where the sky mirrored in water or where flowers seemed to sway gracefully upon the surface.
Now, you can appreciate the wonder of color diffusion in Monet's work! It's a captivating method that allows artists to convey the world in a new and enchanting light, as Claude Monet did in his magnificent paintings.
Image Credits & Further Learning:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_-_The_Houses_of_Parliament,_Sunset.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bridge_Over_a_Pond_of_Water_Lilies,_Claude_Monet_1899.jpg
Supplies Needed for Insider's Club Members (or if you're a box subscriber & want to purchase additional supplies)
Strongly recommended: Claude Monet: Sunshine and Waterlilies authored and illustrated by True Kelley. You can purchase it or find it at your local library, or watch our Artist in Residence's read aloud below!
Bleeding tissue paper like so
*bleeding tissue paper is different to regular tissue paper in that the color can spread to other surfaces when wetted!
2" foam brush like these
Black permanent marker like this
**the marker must be permanent for this project
12"x18" white cardstock paper like this
Wax crayons such as these
A cup, can, jar, or old yogurt container for water
Something to cover your work surface such as an old shower curtain liner, cardboard, or even old rags and paper towels.
*The above Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of them we may earn a very small commission but it does not increase your price at all, so we hope you will!
Main Project Tutorial
Taking It Further
Read Together
Reading Questions & Answers
Younger Artists:
Q: Who was Claude Monet and where did he come from? A: Painter from France who painted landscapes and outdoor scenes.
Q: What were some of Monet’s favorite places to paint? A: outdoors, water scenes, lilly pads, bridge over water in his backyard, during different seasons and different times of the day.
Older Artists:
Q: What style of art did Claude Monet paint in? A: Impressionism
Q: What is color diffusion? A: Transferring or sticking of colors from one medium to another.
Q: What does color diffusion remind you of? A: Tye dye process, marbling, color mixing, etc.
Q: Like Monet, how does painting at different times of the day change a painting? A: The light changes throughout the day.
Q: How does painting during different seasons change the overall painting? A: The changes in the seasons and the overall lighting of the work.
About the Artist
Jackie Friel
Hi, my name is Jackie Friel. I am a PreK-2nd grade Art Teacher on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. My hobbies include spending time with my husband Dillon and our French bulldog George, jewelry making, crocheting, painting, swimming and walking on the beach. I firmly believe in the arts as a therapeutic outlet for children and adults. I feel that it is important to promote individuality, build confidence, give support and praise to promote the love of creativity with all learners. I am excited to start this creative journey with you and your families!
Printable Vocab Match & Answer Key
Our newly designed project instructions feature an activity just for fun!
The November game is a word search found on page 11 of the printed insert.
Below is a printable version of the word search for sharing and the answer key.
About the Insider’s Club
The Outside the Box Insider’s Club is a monthly digital membership that includes videos, downloadable curriculum/project plans, and tips to make it easy for parents to do art regularly with their kids! If you know someone who would enjoy this, please share the Outside the Box Insider's Club. If you have been a box subscriber for a year or more and have accumulated a large stash of art supplies, you may want to switch to the Insider's Club digital membership.
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