6 Matisse Inspired Art Projects
Collage Art Projects Inspired by Henri Matisse
This week I introduced my Primary school students to the creative mind of Henri Matisse. I actually really enjoyed reviewing his work, life, and story in preparation for teaching this week. I needed a good brush up and this was a great way to follow last weeks lessons on positive and negative shapes. Year groups 1 to 6 made artwork inspired by his famous pieces.
I made a Matisse Presentation for Key Stage 1 & 2 and shared examples of his original art that resembled the art project they were about to try.
I told them his story and shared useful information about him that they could use while creating. I was so unbelievably happy about how much they remembered about him and his work when I asked them the following week. So happy!
Is there anything greater than seeing how much someone has learned from your teaching? I don’t think there is.
Above is a super helpful Matisse Lesson Pack which includes the Presentation I started with. Here’s what we made this week:
Materials You'll Need:
A2 Tissue paper
A3 White paper & Assorted Colours of Construction Paper
A4 Assorted Colours of Paper
Year 1 | 5-6 yrs
Inspired by “The Snail”
Resources:
Snail Connect The Dots Activity Sheet (coming soon)
Matisse Lesson Pack (coming soon)
What To Do:
Cut the A3 paper into a square.
Present Henri Matisse and his work. I told them his story and introduced them to “The Snail" collage by Matisse.
Next, show them this video of the story book “When Pigasso Met Mootisse” on Youtube. It's a great video I used up to Year 3.
Prepare their tables while they watch the video with the poster paper and the coloured squares.
Have fun collaging an original snail, include a snail head and face.
Drying Time Activity for extra fun. Connect The Dots of a Snail that can be coloured in. Connect The Dots are great way for young children to practice their numbers and fine motor skills for drawing.
YEAR 2 | 6-7 yrs
Abstract Collage Panels
Resources:
What ToDo:
Year 2 and 3 also got to watch “When Pigasso Met Mootisse”
They recreated their own Matisse picture using his signature shapes of coloured paper.
Most of them just made their own shapes that had nothing to do with Matisse... But I guess that’s ok too, at least they explored their creativity while still learning about a new artist.
YEAR 3 | 7-8 yrs
Abstract Collage Pictures
What You’ll Need:
A5 Black paper
Coloured paper
What to do:
After the video, they made their own “Triangle Art” with coloured squares and black triangles. Most of them did whatever they wanted with the shapes. After this project was completed I gave them my Matisse Colour By Numbers activity sheet for the remaining minutes of class. My students really love these sheets! Sometimes they ask for art homework! (I know, I can’t believe it either)
YEAR 4 | 8-9 yrs
Inspired by“Creole Dancers”