At first looked down upon as the promotion of unfinished works, Impressionism became one of the most well-known art movements in the world. Heralded by the likes of French artists Manet, Renoir, Monet, Pissaro, Caillebotte, and Cézanne, the movement had a profound effect on American painters studying abroad in the late 19th century. Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, James McNeil Whistler, Guy Rose and many more, all picked up influences from this new style of painting and began to incorporate its colors, lively brush work, and focus on ordinary subjects into their works.
Today, the American Impressionist Society works to support artists who continue to work in this style with workshops, paint outs, and exhibitions, including the Annual National Juried Exhibition. This year’s exhibition will be on display through October 22, 2022, at Mary Williams Fine Arts in Boulder, Colorado. Awards Judge Huihan Liu selected a number of watercolor paintings to take home prizes in this prestigious competition.
The American Impressionist Society defines American Impressionism as “the concern for light on form, color, and brushstrokes. Allowing equal latitude between these attributes, and recognizing not a single definitive element, but several factors–including light and hue, visual breakdown of detail, concern for contemporary life, and cultivation of direct and spontaneous approaches to a subject.”
