Inspirational Story- Making Magic with Imagination and Determination

Imagination Quote

Claude Monet made magic with his imagination and determination.  He lived from 1840 to 1926 and is best known for his fascination of painting the same scenes over and over again in different lights. Monet boldly painted in his own style with his own voice instead of following the techniques the masters of his time used.  His unique style helped to create the impressionist movement in painting and he did it while combating physical challenges.

In 1908, Monet’s eyesight started to fail.  He tried surgery and glasses, but his eyesight was worsening.  Despite feeling upset about the imminent loss of his eyesight, Monet responded by feverishly painting his pond filled with water lilies at Giverny. He painted his water lilies in every possible light capturing the magical pool of water. 

Waterlilies 1916 by Monet

Monet started his last painting project when he was 75 and managed to complete it before he died.  The project was to make a dozen decorative panels that were each about 6 feet tall and 12 feet wide for France.  Monet decided the focus for the series of panels would be his water lilies.

When the Waterlilies panels were complete, they were installed in the Orangerie of Tuleries.  Monet did it!   He met his goal and overcame his obstacles.  He also managed to paint some of the most stunning and magical paintings ever created.

I think the description given by Georges Clemenceau when he saw Monet’s Waterlillies paintings at the Orangerie of Tuleries is perfect. Clemenceau described Waterlillies as being magical:

“A stretch of water covered with flowers and foliage in all the tumult

of the solar fire, with the mutual repercussions of the heavenly vault

and the aquatic mirror... When the waterlilies carry us up from the

liquid plane to the clouds, travelers in infinite space, we leave earth

and its sky, even to enjoy fully the sublime harmony of things far beyond

our little planetary world in the full flight of our emotions.”

Now when I see a reproduction of Monet’s paintings (I wish I could see an original!), I am going to be reminded of how incredible it is that he could accomplish so much with his eyesight failing so badly.  In fact, I wonder if his failing eyesight helped Monet to paint such breathtakingly beautiful works of art in such an ethereal and magical way.

Waterlilies 1926 by Monet

His use of subtle shades and tones of color were done masterfully in a true impressionist manner creating truly magical landscapes that will continue to stand the test of time. Monet literally stepped beyond his physical challenges and managed to make magic by using his imagination and determination, despite being unable to see much at all in his final years.

Thought For My Fibro Friends: Can you imagine being nearly blind and continuing your life’s passion of painting which relies so heavily on sight? I feel like most of us with Fibromyalgia face similar difficulties because we have to find ways to do the things we love despite facing pain, fatigue, and mental fogginess.  I know it is not easy for me and I doubt it was easy for Monet.  Wouldn’t it be fantastic if one of us Fibromyalgia warriors managed to create something as awe-inspiring as Monet did while overcoming our obstacles?