Watercolor Art Appreciation for Kids: A Monet-Inspired Activity
Updated: 3 days ago
Watercolor Art Appreciation for Kids: A Monet-Inspired Activity
Sometimes, the simplest homeschool activities become the most memorable.
Recently, I sat down with my six-year-old son to explore art through watercolors. I wanted to try something a little different: instead of simply telling him about a famous artist or asking him to complete a directed art project, I wanted us to spend time looking at a painting, talking about what we noticed, and then creating something of our own.
We explored Claude Monet's The Japanese Footbridge, got out the watercolors, and let our imaginations take over. His baby brother even joined in on the fun! What began as a simple art activity became a lovely opportunity to slow down, connect, and enjoy learning together.
It's an approach I love for our homeschool: meaningful, unhurried, and flexible enough for children at different stages.
Start with a Famous Work of Art
You don't need an elaborate lesson plan to introduce your child to a famous artist. Begin with one painting and give your child time to look.
For this activity, we explored The Japanese Footbridge, painted in 1899 by French Impressionist artist Claude Monet. The painting features an arched bridge over a pond, surrounded by lush greenery and water lilies.
Monet painted his garden at Giverny many times, exploring how light, color, water, and reflections could transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.
Explore the original artwork: Claude Monet, The Japanese Footbridge — National Gallery of Art
Start by looking at the painting together. Before explaining the artist's life or pointing out particular details, give your child a quiet moment to observe.
Let them discover the bridge, the water, the flowers, and the many shades of green for themselves.
You might ask:
What do you notice first?
What colors can you find in the bridge?
Can you see the water lilies?
What do you think the water might look like in real life?
If you could walk across this bridge, what do you think you would see?
Which part of the painting would you most like to paint?
There is no need to turn this into a quiz. The goal is simply to help your child look carefully and develop a personal connection with the artwork.
Talk About What You See and Feel
One of my favorite things about looking at art with children is discovering what they notice that I might have overlooked.
A child may focus on a bright color, an unusual shape, or a tiny detail. They may describe the painting as peaceful, mysterious, beautiful, or even a little strange.
All of those responses are welcome.
Ask your child what they think about the painting and how it makes them feel. Listen to their observations without worrying about finding the right answer.
This gentle conversation also offers an opportunity to practice language and narration. Children can describe colors, compare shapes, explain their ideas, and put their thoughts into words.
For families following a Charlotte Mason–inspired approach, this kind of picture study encourages careful observation and thoughtful attention.
Bring Out the Watercolors
After spending some time with the original painting, invite your child to create a watercolor response.
You only need a few simple supplies:
Watercolor paper or regular printer paper
A cup of water
A towel or paper towel
Then let your child begin.
Your child might paint a bridge and pond similar to Monet's, experiment with the painting's blue-green colors, or create an entirely different scene inspired by the artwork.
There is no need to reproduce the original perfectly. Part of the joy is seeing how differently children interpret the same painting.
During our own watercolor time, we enjoyed experimenting with colors and making our own creations. I loved having the chance to sit beside my six-year-old, talk, paint, and simply enjoy the moment.
And his baby brother wanted to participate, too!
It reminded me that art appreciation doesn't have to be reserved for one particular age or skill level. With age-appropriate, supervised materials, even very young children can enjoy exploring color and making their own marks on paper.
The finished paintings don't have to look like Monet's work. They are a record of your children's own observations, choices, and creativity.
Our Monet-Inspired Watercolor Paintings
I love that these paintings don't need to look exactly like the original to be meaningful. Each one captures a little piece of our time together and the different ways children explore color and creativity.
Materials for a Simple Watercolor Art Activity
One of the best things about this activity is that it doesn't require an elaborate collection of art supplies. You can begin with what you already have at home.
Here are a few materials that make the experience easier and help you preserve your children's artwork.
A basic pan watercolor set is a wonderful place to start. Look for non-toxic paints intended for children's art activities, with enough colors to experiment with mixing greens, blues, and other shades.
Watercolor paper or printer paper
Watercolor paper absorbs water better than ordinary printer paper and helps children enjoy the painting process without the paper becoming too flimsy.
A student-grade watercolor pad is more than sufficient for this activity.
A small set of round brushes in different sizes gives children options for painting broad areas, adding details, and experimenting with different brushstrokes.
Water containers and a mixing palette
A stable water cup and a simple mixing palette are all you need. Many watercolor sets include a built-in palette, so there's no need to purchase one separately.
Table protection and cleanup supplies
A reusable art mat, an old towel, and paper towels can make watercolor time easier to manage, particularly when younger siblings want to join in.
An art appreciation binder
A simple three-ring binder, sheet protectors, and cardstock can help you preserve your children's paintings and keep them organized by artist or date.
Let each painting dry completely before storing it.
A reproduction of Monet's painting
You don't need to purchase an art print to get started. The National Gallery of Art's page for The Japanese Footbridge provides a free artwork reference to use during your study.
Keep it simple: Start with paints, paper, and brushes. Add the other supplies as your family develops a routine.
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Create an Art Appreciation Binder
Here's an idea I'd love to continue throughout our homeschool years: keeping a binder of the artwork we study and the paintings we create in response.
Imagine looking through it years from now and seeing how your children responded to different artists, colors, and subjects at different ages.
You can keep this very simple. For each artist study, include:
The original artwork: A printed reproduction or small picture of the painting
The artist and title: A few basic facts to help you remember what you studied
Your child's painting: Their own watercolor interpretation
The date: A simple way to keep the pages in order
A sentence or observation: Something your child noticed or enjoyed, if they want to share it
For younger children, you can write down their words as they dictate them. Older children might write their own observations or add a few facts about the artist.
You don't have to complete every section every time. Some days, you might simply tuck the painting into the binder with the artist's name and date.
Over the years, this collection can become a meaningful family record of your art studies and your children's creative development.
Make It Work for Your Family
One of the things I appreciate most about this activity is how easily it adapts to different ages and abilities.
For younger children: Keep the conversation short, focus on a few colors, and let them enjoy painting freely.
For early elementary students: Invite them to describe the painting, notice details, experiment with colors, and explain what inspired their own work.
For older children: Explore the artist's life, discuss composition and technique, compare paintings, or write a short narration about the artwork.
You can spend fifteen minutes or an entire afternoon. You can study one painting or return to the same artist several times.
The activity is meant to enrich your homeschool, not become another source of pressure. Adapt it to your child's interests, abilities, and attention span.
Continue Exploring Monet
If your family enjoys this kind of relaxed art appreciation, you might enjoy exploring more of Monet's work and learning about his life as an artist.
My Monet Artist Study at Garden & Ivy Studio on Teachers Pay Teachers is a natural next step for families who want to bring more artist study into their homeschool.
A Little Art, a Little Connection, and Time to Slow Down
As homeschool parents, it's easy to feel that every activity needs a specific educational outcome or a beautifully finished product.
But sometimes, the most valuable part of learning is simply being together.
Looking at a painting gave us something to talk about. Watercolors gave us a way to respond creatively. And having both boys join in made the experience feel like a family activity rather than a formal lesson.
I want to make more room for these kinds of moments in our homeschool: time to observe, ask questions, explore ideas, and enjoy the process without rushing toward the next task.
If you'd like to try it, choose one painting that catches your eye, set out some watercolors, and see where the conversation takes you.
You might even begin your own art appreciation binder, adding a page each time your family studies a new artist. You don't need to be an artist, and your children don't need to create masterpieces. You only need a little time, a willingness to look closely, and an invitation to create.
At Garden & Ivy Studio, I believe homeschool enrichment can be both meaningful and manageable. Through living books, nature, art, history, geography, and English, we can help our children develop curiosity and a lasting love of learning—one small experience at a time.
Enjoyed this idea? Explore Garden & Ivy Studio's homeschool resources for more inspiration for your family's learning journey.
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