Jazz (Icarus) by Matisse - "Painting With Scissors"

Medium: Colored construction paper. 

Reason for lesson: Help students learn about Henri Matisse and his style of art. Focus on his use of color, natural subjects, and especially his "painting with scissors."

Label: 2nd grade, Matisse

Preparation prior to class: Collect supplies. Cut 8.5x11 yellow construction paper in half, cut 8.5x11 red construction paper into small swuares, about 1"X11".

Class time: 1 hour

Materials: Colored construction paper (red, black, blue, yellow). Glue sticks (can use Elmer's glue but be careful of extra glue showing..leaves shiny spots). Scissors. Printed pics of Matisse artwork; include Jazz (Icarus).

Lesson Instructions:

1. Give each child one piece each of 8.5x11 blue and black paper, one of the half pieces of yellow, and one square of red, and a glue stick.

2. Give short bio of Henri Matisse.

3. Show 3-4 examples and discuss artwork of Matisse.

4. Display a copy of Jazz (Icarus) artwork for students to use as a guide. 

5. Demonstrate cutting in one connected line around the shape of a body. 

6. Demonstrate cutting a star freehand and allow students about 6 stars. Tip: show students how to cut a circle and then cut star points around it. 

7. Demonstrate cutting either a circle or heart from red paper. 

8. Have students glue all pieces on. 

Matisse Flower Vases

Medium:  Paper collage and sharpie

Reason for Lesson:  Learn about the artwork of Henri Matisse and the principle of patterns and color.

Label:  Color, movement, harmony, 5th grade, Matisse

Prep Time:  20 minutes

Preparation prior to lesson:  gather supplies, cut tissue paper into 2x2 inch squares

Class Time:  1 hour

Materials:  12x18  White Background paper.   Various colors of construction paper. 1 8 1/2 X 11 piece of colored construction paper. ]Sharpies, Glue, 2x2 inch square colored tissue paper (5-6 per student)

Instructions to Lead Lesson:  

1.       Introduce Henri Matisse. Give a brief bio and try to relate his life in some way to the kids (keep this lesson time brief, take no more than 5-10 minutes for the Artist Introduction)

2.       Show examples of Henri Matisse’s artwork and have the students discuss what makes Matisse’s artwork unique. Talk about what the artist is trying to convey with his art. What feelings are evoked?

3.       Have the students discover different repeating patterns in Matisse’s artwork. Have them look for all the different variations of pattern. What colors, themes, medium does he use? What feeling  does the repeating pattern create in the artwork? 

          Be sure to point out that Matisse “Painted with Scissors”. He used collage and patterned paper in much of his later artwork.

4.       Point out that Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) was influenced by Matisse. You may wish to show some of Eric Carle’s books to show how he was influenced.

5.  

6.

     Create the patterned vase on a collage background

 Begin with Vertical 12x18 in white watercolor paper and 5 sheets of various sizes of colored construction paper and 1 8x10 piece of colored construction paper

8.       Cut large blocks out of the colorful construction paper students may wish to cut some wavy lines for edges (keep it simple for time)

9.       Choose two color blocks and draw a repeating pattern with sharpie (time permitting. To finish in an hour this step may need to be omitted)

1        Glue colored blocks to cover the entire white paper background

          Take a 8x10 solid piece of colored construction paper and with the sharpie draw a repeating pattern to fill the entire page.

1     

            Fold patterned paper in half (vertical) with pattern on the inside.

1     Draw and S shape on the fold. Be sure to draw the lines from top to bottom staring from the top right corner and finishing at the bottom of the page.

1   Cut along the lines and open up to form a vase.

1    Glue the vase onto the background aligning bottom edges

1    Place Elmers glue drops on the background several inches above the vase at various heights

     Glue down 5-7 pieces of tissue paper. Wait until dry and then crinkle.

1   Add stems with construction paper if desired.

You're Finished!

Credit:  artwork influenced by http://artiswhatiteach.blogspot.com/2010/04/2nd-grade-matisse-flower-vases.html?m=1