A few days ago, I spent an evening in Books A Million up in Dickson City. It is one of my favorite stores. In fact, I do not think I ever walked out of that store empty handed. I always find something! The bargain section is my favorite section of the store because there is also so much to browse upon and you never know what you will come across! And, this visit I came across an Impressionist coloring book!! It is filled with works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh, Edouard Manet, plus other great impressionists!

Impressionism was a nineteen century French art movement. It was the first movement where artists really ventured out, and by ventured I literally mean ventured out! Artist began to paint en plein air, outdoors. They were almost like photographers but with painting. Impressionists captured light as it flickered and faded. They captured moments as they were happening, truly capturing light as it changes and passes. Artists of the time painted scenes of every day leisure, life, and landscape scenes.

Even the way they applied paint was radical. Impressionists used this inventive style of freely formed, thin, quick, and painterly brush stokes. Purple and blues were highly incorporated. The colors used were highly vibrant and bright. The artists also layered wet paint on wet paint, creating softer edges and fuses of color.

And, I am very excited to begin this book! Here are a few pages from the book: