Easy Claude Monet Art Project: How to Paint Water Lilies
Below you’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for a Monet art project for kids. Watercolor paint and crayons can make some very pretty water lilies.
Claude Monet was a French artist in the late 1800s. He was one of the first who wanted to share more of the impression of things he was painting, and how a particular painting might make you feel when you looked at it. This tutorial makes for an easy Monet art project for kids in that his loose and colorful look can be captured with just simple crayons and watercolors.
This is called a watercolor resist project, because the drawing that is made with crayons, will resist the paint that is brushed over it at the end. Though the process is simple (draw with crayons and then paint) there are a few tips I’d like to pass along so your students have the most success with their painting.
- Do use watercolor paper. It will make the paint colors look at least twice as bright as drawing paper. It’s the reason why it costs more than regular paper.
- Draw ONLY with crayons, no planning with a pencil first. The gray lines will show through the light crayon colors, and take away from the delicate look of the painting.
- Encourage students to press EXTRA hard when coloring. The flowers need to be filled in really well, so they don’t turn blue when the paint goes over them. And the white wave lines need to be really thick too so they show up well at the end.
That’s it! This is a great project for special events like fundraisers or art shows. The process is a simple one that all ages can enjoy, and the art that is created is bound to have a pretty and delicate look, thanks to just a few simple art supplies that happen to work together really well!
Use the Button below to Download a PDF Tutorial
Pin me to your Pinterest Board!
Materials for a Monet Art Project
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and take action, I will be compensated a small amount at no expense to you.
- Watercolor Paper.
- Real watercolor paper always makes the watercolor paint much more vibrant.
- Pencil.
- The Ticonderoga brand are the most reliable, make nice dark lines when you need them, and are the easiest to erase.
- Crayola Crayons.
- This classic brand always works well.
- Rounded Watercolor Brush.
- A good paint brush can make all the difference in the world. Who can paint small details with one of those big floppy brushes? This style with a sturdy rounded tip were my hands down favorite.
- Liquid Watercolor Paint.
- These paints are so easy to work with, leave such bright colors and last for a long, long time. Well worth the investment.
- Non-Spill Paint Cup.
- Train your students to leave the matching brush in each cup after they use it, and you have an easy system with very little cleanup.
Step by Step Directions for a Monet Art Project
Time needed: 45 minutes
How to paint a Monet art project for kids
- Note: the paper is gray just to show the light crayon colors.
Use a yellow crayon to draw about four water lilies. Add a ring below each. Fill the flowers with orange and yellow crayon. Press hard to leave thick color.
- Fill the rings with yellow crayons color. If possible, use a different shade of yellow. Use a white crayon to draw rings and waves. Press hard.
- Brush a layer of watery blue paint over the entire painting.
- While the paint is still wet, add some green spots so they blend together. This is called wet-on-wet painting.
Water Lily Art by Students
More Art History Projects
