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Matisse is a great way to introduce scissor skills, primary and secondary colors, and even to talk about disabilities in the classroom!
Book Recommendation:
My Matisse 3 Part Cards Can be Downloaded Here
(for free!)
If you haven't used 3 part cards before, you can find instructions here.
Potential Art Concepts and Vocabulary: Shape, Color, Vivid/Bright Colors. Contrast
Skills: Painting, Cutting, Gluing
Sub Themes: Icarus, Disabilities
Montessori Shelf Materials:
Loose Part Collage: I recommend a multicolored simple geometric shapes, a half sheet of construction paper and a glue stick for younger children. A bottle of white glue for older.
Watercolor: Download my Matisse coloring page here. Use the large shape for 2 and 3 year olds, and the complex shape for 4-6 year olds.
Cutting: We created abstract shape stencils for children to trace and cut. See examples below. These were made using simple craft foam, and were also used for easel painting. The shape on the coloring page can also be given to advanced cutters to cut out.
Coloring: I made a simple snail coloring page and talked about Matisse's piece The Snail. Download here.
Children often love the spiral shape. I drew large spirals with chalk on the playground and the children spent a lot time walking through it and decorating it. You could also introduce the red rod extension known as the maze to talk more about the shape that inspired this piece.
Special Projects:
Icarus:
My kids were very interested in the story of Icarus after I told them a little bit about it, especially the kindergarten kids!
Here is a great version of the story you can tell:
Matisse Pattern Cards and Tracing!
I made patterns and shapes with marker on cardstock. I laminated them and put them onto a ring so the kids could use them as an example and make their own patterns. Some children copied them directly, and some of them started making their own patterns!
Talking about Matisse and Disabilities
Cutting and Gluing in Bed
Matisse was bedridden towards the end of his life, and used a wheelchair. Many of his most famous works were created in bed or with the physical help of assistance. He began to cut, rather than paint, due to these physical limitations.
We had our children lay down and do all their cutting on cots and pillows, to feel what it would be like to be stuck in bed! They really enjoyed this activity, but they also found it frustrating. A co-worker even brought in a pediatric wheelchair from a local pharmacy and had the students take a tour of the school for her talk about disability. (Credit to Monica Johnson for this great project!)
Materials:
Pillows, Cots or Blankets
Scissors
Glue Sticks
Construction Paper
Instructions: Lay paper out on table, have children pick a piece and lay down. Emphasize scissor safety! Once they have cut a shape they are happy with, they can return to the table, lay it out on their canvas, and pick another piece of paper for cutting. To help the artist name stick, call them Name Matisse as many times as possible (i.e. Get another piece of paper Maria Matisse! Great work JP Matisse!)
Matisse Face Painting! Woman with a Hat
For our special kindergarten project we painted a backdrop, got a floppy hat, some fake flowers and all our leftover halloween makeup! Unfortunately I can't post the pictures of the kids, but they are ADORABLE. Heres the one they took of me next to the original painting.
Materials:
Roll paper or sheet
Tempera Paints
Face Paint
Hand Mirrors
Hat and Decorations
Camera
Tripod (optional)
Chair (optional)
1. Hang the backdrop in a well lit area.
2. Apply base coat to children's faces if they are younger
3. Give them mirrors and paint and let them go to town!
4. Sit them (or stand them) in front of the backdrop, let them pick their hat and decorations (I just set mine on top of the hat, for a longer project you could have individual hats and let them glue/decorate)
5. Photograph them
6. Show them the prints or digital images later!