Swiss painter and graphic artist, Paul Klee, is known for his child-like use of line and color.... maybe that's why kids relate so well to his work! The influence of Surrealism, Expressionism, and Cubism is easily seen in his art, yet he really had a style all his own. This project is inspired by his painting, "Fish Magic", where he combines traditional underwater imagery … [Read more...]
An Abstract “Musical Composition”!
Abstract art is a great way to teach composition and the Elements of Art... without the intimidation that can occur when striving for realism. Take some musical symbols and create a random layout... and have fun with it!! Materials:12x18 black construction paperOil pastels (we used the Pentel 16 color set)Directions:1. Sketch your design using a white oil pastel. Include at … [Read more...]
Kandinsky for Kinders
I love this color mixing lesson inspired by Russian artist, Wassily Kandinsky! Kandinsky was an accomplished musician as well as an artist, so it's fun to play music while the students are working. You can do variations of this lesson for just about any grade level. Here is what I do for Kindergarten and 1st grade.... perfect for allowing students to experiment and just have … [Read more...]
Grade 3 Portfolios – The Shapes and Colors of Joy
"Matthew's Dream", by Leo Lionni, is my inspiration for our third grade portfolio project. In this charming fable, a boy named Matthew visits the museum with his classmates and is entranced by the paintings he sees there. That night Matthew has a magical dream which helps him to see the world around him in a whole new way. He becomes a painter and creates beautiful abstract … [Read more...]
Abstract Design with Markers
Kids will learn about art history, abstract art, and alternating patterns with this fun project inspired by the art of Robert and Sonia Delaunay. All you need is a pencil, a ruler, a marker or two, and some plastic lids or other circle templates to trace around. Making these cool patterns is easier than it looks and kids will be so proud of the unique designs they … [Read more...]
More about Picasso….
Self-Portrait 1907 by Pablo Picasso Yesterday's post, "Wild 'n Crazy Picasso Portraits", left me inspired to write a little bit more about this amazing artist... Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), is often under-appreciated by people who don't know much about him.... I usually have to remind students of "Rule #1" when teaching a class about Picasso for the first … [Read more...]
Wild ‘n Crazy Picasso Portraits
"Picasso Portraits", taught by Mrs. Mendence to her 2nd graders,after attending my teacher workshop, "Teach Kids Art with Markers"Nothing beats abstract art for getting kids to loosen up and just have fun with being creative! Not having to worry about making your picture look "realistic" really takes the pressure off, and for many, can be a totally freeing experience!Pablo … [Read more...]
Abstract Scatch Art
This project was inspired by Swiss artist Paul Klee. Paul Klee (1879-1940) was an abstract artist known for his highly individual style, which was influenced by many different art movements, including Expressionism, Cubism and Surrealism. Random colors in the background appear as your design is scratched out, offering a fun surprise whether you create a partial or total … [Read more...]
Alphabet Soup Art
In today's culture, some symbols have become so familiar that we've stopped noticing them. This idea is what prompted contemporary American artist, Jasper Johns, to create abstract paintings from symbols such as letters, numbers and maps to get his viewers to experience these symbols in new ways. Your students can follow these steps to learn about abstract art with this fun … [Read more...]
What Is Art??
So what is Art, anyway?? Not to get all philosophical or anything, but you have to admit that's a good question! If you ask 100 people, you're likely to get 100 different answers. I recently attended an exhibit at the Denver Art Museum titled, "What is Art?". This question was posed to exhibit viewers who responded on sticky notes that covered an entire wall. Reading … [Read more...]
