31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 12: Matisse

Title: Henri's Scissors
Estimated time: 35-45 minutes
Project: Matisse Pop Up Card
About the artist:(1869-1954) Matisse was born in France. As a young man he traveled to Paris to study law. After he moved back home and found a job in a law office as a clerk he had to have surgery due to appendicitis. While he was bed ridden his mom gave him paints. While painting he was brought to realization that he wanted to be an artist, so he went back to school. The school he attended was very strict about what style the students painted, which Matisse hated. Around that time Impressionism was becoming popular. Matisse tried it and never fully embraced the style. A group of his friends were frustrated with the Academy rules and began experimenting with color. These artists are known as the fauves. A French word meaning "wild beast." they painted with a vibrant palette. In the 40's Henri's health went down hill and it made it hard for him to paint. Instead, he cut shapes from paper- collages. This is known by him as "drawing with scissors" and "cut outs."
Summary: Read Henri's Scissors, then study his work. Follow this lesson on creating a textured jungle animal collage to create a pop up card inspired by Matisse. Compare organic and geometric shapes. Talk about overlapping shapes, foreground, middle ground, background.
Objectives: Identify the elements of art (line, shape, form, space, value, texture and color), Understand and apply media, techniques, and processes, Understand the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
Supplies:

• Cardstock or construction paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue
• Ruler

Codomas: 1943, The Goldfish: 1912, White Algae on a Red and Green Background: 1945

 

Do you so any repetitive shapes? Can you spot the complementary colors? Henri started painting and then when he was unable to paint he cut paper, what was this period called?

 Matisse Pop Up Card:

1. Fold a full sheet of construction paper/cardstock in half.
2. Draw parallel lines on the folded side, these will become the "pop ups." I drew an x on the back for the pieces I wanted to push in. These should not be much more than inch wide. These can be various sizes. This will give the dimension.
3. Carefully cut slits on the lines you created, half way to the other edge is plenty far enough.
   
4. Open the card and push the cut pieces with an x on them and carefully fold back in half. This is your base.
5. Now comes the fun part! Making color "Cut Outs" to place on the card and pop up bars. You can draw shapes before you cut if that helps you with your design.
6. Glue rectangles and shapes on the background and the flap that sits on the table.
   
7. Cut organic shapes and swirls to attach to the pop up bar.
   
8. Voila! A pop up card inspired by Henri Matisse!
   
   
   
   
   What colors of paper are you going to cut? What shapes are you going to make? Can you cut a swirl?

These images are suitable for children, please be aware when doing a search for artists you may find imagery that is not age appropriate.   

31 Children's Books Inspired by Artists