First Grade Artists Inspired by Monet at The Peck School

Our first grade artists at The Peck School took a magical journey into the world of Impressionism, drawing inspiration from the timeless works of French impressionist painter Claude Monet—especially his iconic Water Lilies series.

In Lower School Art Teacher Christine Walker’s art class, students explored how Monet used color, light, and movement to create his tranquil pond scenes. They began their projects by painting the water with short, choppy brushstrokes and a soft palette of blues, greens, and lavender—mimicking the dappled light and reflections that Monet so famously captured.

Next, students experimented with a wet-on-wet watercolor technique to fill in their drawn lily pads, watching colors blend and flow just as they might in a real pond. The final touch was the creation of 3D lotus blossoms—each made from three painted layers of magenta and white paper carefully stacked and glued to form lifelike blooms.

“I love this unit because it introduces students to one of the leaders of the Impressionist movement while exploring various painting techniques,” said Walker. “First grade artists also hone their fine motor skills by drawing and cutting out shapes, and make artistic decisions with the placement of the elements in their composition.”

The completed pieces are a stunning celebration of color, texture, and creativity, reflecting both the Impressionist style and the joyful imagination of our first graders. Through this project, Peck’s young artists not only learned about a legendary painter but also discovered new ways to express the beauty of nature through art.