The Artist Collection Feature – Monet
Our semi-custom collection, The Artist Collection, is inspired by our favorite artists. Today, we are highlighting Impressionist painter Claude Monet who inspired our iconic floral invitation suite design.
Claude Monet was a French painter and leader in the Impressionist movement. In fact, the term “Impressionist” comes from one of his very own paintings entitled, Impression, Sunrise. At an early age, Monet knew that his heart belonged to art, and at age 11, he decided to enroll in Le Havre secondary school of the arts. While studying there, Monet was known for the little caricatures he would draw for the locals, selling them for ten to twenty francs each (which would be about $10-$20 USD today).
“Water Lilies’ is an extension of my life. Without water the lilies cannot live, as I am without my art” – Claude Monet
Monet was drawn to capturing the French countryside, leading him to adopt the “alla prima”, or “at once”, technique. Rather than painting in layers and over a long period of time, he would complete paintings in just one sitting. Monet did this by painting a single layer of paint and when a mistake was made, he’d simply scrape the paint off and repaint that area. This technique enabled Impressionist artists, like Monet, to capture the momentary effects of light and be prolific in their work.
Monet is most famously known for his water lily paintings drawn from his garden in Giverny, France, which served as one of his biggest sources of inspiration. As such, he would often write precise instructions for his gardeners, using specific designs and color layouts that he would use for his paintings. Monet once said “I am following Nature without being able to grasp her… I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”
His fast brushstrokes captured fleeting light and movement, while his soft color palette and natural subjects gave his work an ethereal and undeniably romantic quality. This romantic movement inspired our Monet invitation suite from the strokes of the calligraphy to the soft blossom shapes. The spring blossom evokes a fleeting nature – the same as is felt in the way Monet captures the last moments of light hitting the water.
The Artist’s Garden at Giverny, Claude Monet -1900 
Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son, Claude Monet – 1875
Check out this post highlighting the Monet design in 3 different aesthetics. Interested in the Monet semi-custom design for your wedding? Submit an inquiry here!
