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Claude Monet, the Classic French painter, was the greatest artist of the French Impressionism Movement of the Nineteenth Century. When one thinks of Impressionism, one thinks of Monet. The term "Impressionism" was derived from one of his greatest works, "Impression, Sunrise"; in which he explores his "perception" of nature through use of colors and light. His techniques of rapid brush strokes and mixing of the colors on the canvas as apposed to before application to the canvas is what he is most famous for. This can also be called "broken colors".

Monet, in his landscapes, developed the technique of what we now know as "plein air" painting; i.e. physically locating one's self outside while painting instead of inside in a studio. This brought a whole new world and feel to his works. Later in life while at his home in Giverny, France, Monet developed a love of gardening, and used his own garden and ponds as his inspiration for some of his most famous works, including his "Water Lilies" series. He painted hundreds of "Water Lilly" paintings, as he would study his pond and garden. His simple suggestion of flowers and images thru his use of light, color and brush stroke technique has become known as the greatest ever of Impressionism, and has influenced many other artists throughout time.

I, as an artist myself, have drawn upon Monet's use of light and color for my own works, and he is the inspiration for me to pursue my passion of living as an artist. So much so, I now call myself a "Modern Impressionist", because my work puts a modern-day spin on Classic Impressionism. At the age of 17, I won first place in Painting at a High School Art Contest and Exhibit, for my rendition of one of Monet's "Water Lilies" paintings.
Like Monet, I love gardening, and often use it as my own inspiration for my paintings. I specialize in landscapes and florals as well, and appreciate the beauty of nature and try to convey it in my own works.

Nature is and always will be all around us, and is the greatest inspiration for art of all kinds today. Artists have a particular way of seeing the world around them, and Monet was one of the best who was able to capture its beauty and appeal, and convey that to his audience. In addition, his use of "pointillism", loose "points" of color on the canvas, which blend together to give an overall feel or affect or to simply "suggest" an image proves that a painting does not have to be realistic in order to correctly depict a particular scene or item. He is and always will be the greatest artist of Impressionism of all time.

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