POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SHAPES, SHAMROCKS and MATISSE
Subject:
Art History, Sculpture and Collage and Seasons
Grade:
2+
Age:
6+
Submitted by:
Submitted by: Anitra Redlefsen, artist and educator.
Objectives:
One of my favorite artists is Matisse, who became famous later in his life for his paper cut out paintings.
One way to achieve harmony in a composition is to repeat positive and negative spaces which vary in size, color, texture or value. Start by first cutting out a positive shape; use the leftover paper around the positive shape as a second by cutting out around it again. Cut a third shape out of the first positive shape, thus altering the it. And so on and so on. Keep using the paper you have to create new shapes which are suggested by shapes already cut out.
Confusing? Try this St. Patrick’s Day project!
What You Need:
What You Do:
- Cut out one shamrock, saving the leftover paper. (See printable page for a sample shamrock.)
- Follow the outline of the leftover paper, cutting a second, new shamrock.
- Repeat this process, using a different size shamrock.
- Repeat steps 1-3.
- Respond to the scraps of paper that you have left over by cutting some new, non-shamrock shapes.
- Assemble shapes onto a surface (another piece of card stock, leftover mat board, etc.) in an interesting composition; secure in place with glue.
- Display and enjoy your paper cut out collage!
For Shamrock Mobile:
- Punch a hole at the top of each of your pieces and string them in interesting ways to a piece of ribbon, yarn or string.
- If you have some pipecleaners, string a shape or two onto the pipecleaner and twist the pipeclearner to the main string/ribbon/yarn.
- Your mobile will look festive and move in fun and surprising ways with varying air currents!
More Information:
Matisse Biography
http://www.kinderart.com/artists/matisse.htm
Shamrock Printable
http://www.kinderart.com/arthistory/sampleshamrock.htm
Shamrock Plant Printable
http://www.kinderart.com/arthistory/shamrockplant.htm
Recommended Books:
Matisse for Kids
by: Margaret Hyde
Henri Matisse (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)
by: Mike Venezia
Biography:
Anitra Redlefsen lives in Medina Ohio with her husband, "The Great Dain". She likes to drink pink fizzly lemonade, go to parties and eat cake with lots of frosting. Anitra is an artist and formal and expressive arts instructor and consultant. Her specialty is designing and implementing custom art experiences tailored for a person's or group's goals, interests and abilities. Visit her web page at http://junior.apk.net/~dain
