Artists have been inspired by the world around us and nature since the beginning of time, starting with the first cave painting. Seasons and weather, in general, have become associated with particular feelings and emotions. A sunny day can radiate warmth and happy feelings, while a rainy day is typically associated with feelings of sadness or sorrow. Rain is often called gray or even a lazy day for some. Not to say you can’t have light-hearted or happy feelings associated with rain, such as an exciting dance in the rain. When artists paint sceneries with rain, those emotions and more are transmitted. While viewing the following rain-themed paintings, what emotions do you feel, what do you think the artist is trying to convey?
Which is your favorite?
Paris Street; Rainy Day Gustave Caillebotte, c.1877
Rainy Street Dusan Malobabic
The Poetess Ono no Komachi in the Rain Utagawa Toyokuni Ii, c.1791
The Rain It Raineth Every Day Norman Garstin, c.1889
Rainy Day, Boston Childe Hassam, c.1885
Rain or Enclosed Wheat Field in the Rain Vincent van Gogh, c.1889
Landscape with Rain Wassily Kandinsky, c.1913
In the Rain (Im Regan) Franz Marc, c.1912
Seascape Study with Rain Cloud John Constable, c.1824
Rain, Storm and Speed William Turner, c.1844
Rain (La pluie) Claude Monet, c.1886
The Singing Butler Jack Vettriano, c.1992
Golconda René Magritte, c.1953
Rain 2 Gerhard Richter, c.1988
Jockeys in the Rain Edgar Degas, c.1886
Rain Princess Leonid Afremov, c.2014
Diligence à Louveciennes Camille Pissarro, c.1870
Art Project: Rainy day wax-resist watercolor painting
Supplies
Directions
Step 1: Using a white oil pastel or crayon, draw your image on your cardstock. Remember, whatever you draw in white will stay white. For your first drawing, try and create a simple rainfall.
Step 2: Using watercolors, apply the paint to the whole page. Where the white pastel or crayon is will stay white. For a rainy, background try using blues and purple. Start small with a few strokes and add more as you go.
Step 3: Make a more complex rain-themed scene once you get the hang of the resist style art. Add objects and even people to your painting to make it more dynamic and interesting.
