Learning about Patterns, Shapes and Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse is one of my favorite artists.  I love his bold colors and beautiful shapes.  While teaching about patterns, painting, collage and shapes, I recently introduced his artwork to my kindergarteners and 1st graders.

First, we learned about his artwork through this Henri Matisse presentation.  We also read the book called Oooh! Matisse, which is a fun, colorful book (but not very informative about his artwork.)  The book is good for discussing and thinking about the shapes in his pictures.

The kindergartners made cut paper collages.  This is a pretty standard art lesson, but it is great for teaching about organic and geometric shapes, overlap and balance.  It is also good to assess where your students are at as far as their cutting and gluing skills.

1.  Start with a long, rectangular sheet of paper.

2.  Give the students smaller pre-cut rectangles in various colors.  Students select and glue rectangles to create a background “stage” for the smaller shapes.

3.  During the next class period, the students cut organic and geometric shapes.  Organic= freeform and natural shapes.  Geometric= shapes such as squares, circles, triangles.  Glue these on top of the background.  Layer and overlap the shapes.

The first graders created patterned flower pictures.

1.  The students started by painting a patterned background.

2.  Glue a rectangular strip of solid paper and a rectangle strip of patterned wall paper.  This provides a “ground” or table for the vase to sit upon.

3.  Choose a colored piece of construction paper, fold in half and cut out half of a vase shape.  Open the paper to reveal the full symmetrical vase.  Use paint or markers to draw patterns and a variety of lines across the vase.

4.  Finally, cut out solid color flowers from construction paper and glue to top of vase.  Stems can be added with green construction paper.  We also used bits of tissue paper and pom-poms for added embellishment.