Zoe Elizabeth Norman pays tribute to the legendary impressionism artist Claude Monet. The piece, which was inspired by a trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, depicts the gardens as well as a small view of a house in the background. Monet, who employed some of the techniques of Manet is known for his loose brushstrokes and “wet” appearance to his work. Zoe mimics this style in Monet’s Water Garden and Boat.
Looking at this piece, the viewer will quickly draw an association between Zoe’s painting and Monet’s Bridge over a Pool of Water Lilies (1899). While the two paintings differ greatly, there are some similarities between the two. In both paintings the use of Lilies to direct the eye used, although the bridge in the later serves as a guide to move the eye from the lefthand to righthand side of the canvas.
Zoe use of foliage in the midground and the boat in the foreground keep the viewer’s eye exploring the painting. Take note of the placement of the house in relationship to the boat. While the eye does get drawn back into the painting because of the house, the boat serves as a way in which to bring you back out of the background and points you towards the side of the canvas, creating a visual circle. The green on the back of the boat also severs as the viewing focal point/starting point of the painting.
Vibrant colors, specifically those used in the midground, help to break up the greens used throughout the piece. These colors help to give a depth to the piece as well as adds to the tranquility of the setting. Additionally, the mastery in depicting the light and shadows found in nature yields a pleasant viewing experience. Reflections in the water create a realism to the piece, but not to the extent that this would take away from the impressionist influences of Monet.
Monet’s Water Garden and Boat follows the artistic style of Zoe’s other oil paintings. While this is not part of a collection, the viewer can quickly see that the other pieces by this artist could work in harmony with the one created here. This is largely due to the watery effect of the brushstrokes, the perspective views that she chooses, and the attention to color and contrast found throughout her pieces.
Zoe’s painting showcases Monet’s Garden well. However, to gain a deeper understanding of this piece we asked the artist the following questions.
Apart from Monet, what other artists have influenced your painting style?
When I switched from botanical watercolour painting to an impressionistic approach, I also moved to oil paints which took a while to get used to. I instinctively took an ‘alla prima’ approach and found I liked painting on a coloured ground. I was first influenced by the contemporary impressionist painter Erin Hanson and used to refer to her paintings in order to remind myself to elaborate and exaggerate the colours in a landscape. It now comes more naturally to me and I think my own style has developed since I started this way of painting five years ago.
I have also been influenced by the 19th century impressionist Mary Cassatt as I just love the way she paints intimate scenes of mothers and children. She has a lovely sensitive colour palate and bold lively brush strokes with minimal detail. Another influence on my own painting is J W Waterhouse who wasn’t an impressionist but had a very direct loose approach to his paintings. He specialised in painting characters from historical fiction such as Shakespeare and Tennyson and his skin, fabrics and foliage are beautifully rendered. I really admire his story telling through art.
How do you think that your visit to Monet’s garden will influence future paintings? Do you find that your visits to such locations carries to influence your style?
Monet’s garden has been such an inspiration to me and it has definitely influenced my choice of subject matter. I have realised that I am naturally drawn to water and appreciate its reflective quality and the changing light and atmosphere that can be conveyed to the canvas. I have always loved nature and plants but I now have the confidence to paint the landscape on a larger scale. I like painting trees but now I almost prefer to paint their reflections. My botanical illustration training has given me a profound interest in plants which I think is why I come back and paint waterlilies over and over again. I am just captivated by their shape and form and of course they grow in water!
I have many more paintings planned from my visits to Giverny and I am also looking to paint waterlilies nearer home. I live near the Norfolk Broads and my husband and I have a canoe which allows me to get right up close to life on the water. My sketches and photographs from these trips will be the starting point for a new series of waterlily paintings. I also hope to visit more UK gardens this year and have started another series of garden scenes including the human figure and incorporating complex and unusual compositions. I am very lucky to have three lovely daughters who are more than happy to model for my paintings!
What was your biggest challenge in creating this piece?
Some paintings flow really well and are just a pleasure to paint while others are a battleground from beginning to end! This painting flowed so well it almost painted itself! having said that this painting still had its challenges. The painting has a lot of detail and colour so I was mindful to keep the distant trees slightly bluer and less detail to convey distance. I also wanted to let the red underpainting peep through as I love the contemporary vibrant zing it gives a finished painting. It’s a balancing act not to hide the underpainting completely but to keep the effect subtle so it doesn’t overwhelm the overall painting.
If you could relate one thing you wish the viewer to know or experience about this piece what would it be?
For me Monet’s garden was one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited. When I first walked through the tunnel and up to the water garden I was nearly brought to tears by the experience. It was like walking into a wonderful dream and one of Monet’s own waterlily paintings all at the same time. I will never forget the experience and every time I paint his garden I want the viewer to also feel uplifted and joyful. I hope my paintings transport the viewer to his garden and enable them to have that same emotional response I had. I’m striving to capture that little piece of heaven, and the timeless peace and tranquillity his ethereal garden offers.
Zoe’s Monet’s Water Garden and Boat is oil on a 60cm by 45cm canvas.
View more work by Zoe Elizabeth Norman
