31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 18: Kandinsky

Title: The Noisy Paint Box  
Estimated time: 30-45 minutes
Project: Kandinsky felt board
About the artist: (1866-1944) Wassily Kandinsky was born in Moscow, Russia. At an early age, he exhibited a very special gift called synaesthesia cognate. It gave him the ability to hear colors and see sounds. His father encouraged this special ability and enrolled him in piano,cello  and art lessons. He studied law and economics. After he got a job at the University of Moscow he shortly decided that art was what he wanted pursue.
Summary: Read The Noisy Paint Box, then study Kandinsky's work. Follow this lesson to make a felt board inspired by Wassily Kandinsky. Maybe try playing music in the background while you make your felt board.
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:

• Felt
• Scissors

Squares with Concentric Circles: 1913, The Cow: 1910, Several Circles: 1926

 

What shapes do you see?  Do they overlap? Are the repeated? Do you see complementary colors (colors across from one another on color wheel- Red and Green, Blue and Orange, Yellow and Purple)

1. Gather felt scraps and sheets. Set a whole sheet aside for the back.
2. When cutting you can draw the shape on the back side with a sharpie, but we didn't find it necessary as the more rough the edges are the more the felt looks like paint.
3. Continue cutting until you have plenty of shapes so you can make many different combinations.We made some donut shapes by folding the oval in half and cutting a smaller oval inside.
4. Arrange any way you would like!
5. Voila! A Kandinsky inspired felt board.

31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 16: Pippin

Title: Splash of Red
Estimated time: 30-45 minutes
Project: Sidewalk chalk drawing, we drew one of the pages
About the artist:(1888-1946) Pippin loved to draw as a child. He loved drawing pictures and giving them to friends and family as gifts. During WWI Pippin drew from the trenches. He got shot while he was away at war, which made it very difficult for him to use his art to draw/paint. He was persistent and determined and regained that movement.
Summary: Read Splash of Red, then study Pippin's work. Follow this lesson on sidewalk chalk drawing inspired by Horace Pippin. Pippin loved charcoals. Charcoals would make a lovely drawing as well.
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:

• Sidewalk
• Chalk

• Paper 
• Charcoals 

Domino Players: 1943, Country Doctor (Night Call): 1935

 

Do you have a family game night? Pippin played with his family. What do you see in the Domino Players?  Was the night call an easy trip? How was the weather?

Horace Pippin Sidewalk Chalk Art:

1. We chose a picture from Splash of Red. Look closely at the illustration and draw what you see.
2. Easy peasy!

31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 14: Thiebaud

Title: Counting with Wayne Thiebaud
Estimated time: 30-45 minutes
Project: Thiebaud Pie Boxes
About the artist:(1920-)Wayne Thiebaud, whose name is pronounced TEE-BOW is an artist in the 31 days of Children's book inspired by artists that is still living! He is commonly considered a pop artist because his paintings are similar to the pop culture subject matter. He began painting this style before Pop Art became popular, so his pastries could have been and inspiration to some artists during the pop art movement.
Summary: Read Counting with Wayne Thiebaud, then study his work. Follow this lesson on Pie Boxes inspired by Thiebaud.  Print more than one and make a whole pie. Talk about fractions.
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:

• Printable pie and cake file
• Cardstock
• Scissors 
• Glue or tape
• Sprinkles-glitter, seed beads
• Frosting- Glitter glue or puff paint
• Paint or markers
• Cotton balls 
• Paint brush

Boston Creme: 1962, Cakes: 1963

 

What are similar about these two paintings? Are colors spread throughout the composition?  Is there repetition?

Let's make a pie in honor of Pi Day! 3.141592
 Instructions for Pie:

1. Print pie template.
2. Color or paint. Let dry. The top is the triangle without the scalloped edge crust.
3. Carefully cut around outside edges and then you can use an exacto to cut slits in dotted lines.
4. Fold box on solid lines and glue or tape the sides labeled glue or tape.
5. Fold the tabs labeled "a" on outside of pie and slip into the slits on the box, this will allow you to put something inside.
6. Now you can decorate with sprinkles and frosting. Fluff cotton ball and glue on top for whipped cream.
7. Voila! A pie or cake to share with a friend.

 

 

Instructions for Cake:

1. Print cake template.
2. Color or paint. Let dry.
3. Carefully cut around outside edges.
4. Fold box on solid lines and glue or tape the sides labeled glue or tape.
5. DO NOT glue or tape the short tab labeled DO NOT GLUE if you want box to open and close.
6. Now you can decorate with sprinkles and frosting. Fluff cotton ball and glue on top for whipped cream.
7. Voila! A pie or cake to share with a friend.

How many pie/cake slices does it take to make a whole pie with these boxes?

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

31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 13: Calder

Title: Sandy's Circus
Estimated time: 45 minutes- 1 hour
Project: Calders Charm Bracelet
About the artist: (1889-1976) Alexander Calder was born in Pennsylvania. His dad was a sculpture and his mom was a portrait painter. His parents encouraged him to choose a career in visual arts. He took their advice and decided to study mechanical engineering, but he still loved art. After graduating he decided to go off to art school where he worked a lot with kinetic sculpture. He is know for his mobiles.
Summary: Read Sandy's Circus, then study his work. Follow this lesson on creating a charm bracelet inspired by Calder. Compare organic and geometric shapes. How many shapes can you make?
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:

• Foam sheets
• Scissors
• Jump Rings
• Beads
• String

 

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

31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 11: Rousseau

Title: The Fantastic Junglesof Henri Rousseau
Estimated time: 45 minutes-1 hour
Project: Textured Tissue Paper Collage
About the artist:(1844-1910) Henri Rousseau was a French Artist that didn't begin painting until he was 40. Take a step into this book and learn how his persistence paid off.
Summary: Read The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau, then study his work. Follow this lesson on creating a textured jungle animal collage inspired by Rousseau. 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.
Textured Jungle supplies:

• Elmer's Glue mixed with water
• Colorful Tissue paper
• Old Paintbrush
• Heavy posterboard or cardstock
• Scissors
  

  Tiger in Tropical Storm:1891, Rabbit: 1908

How does the tiger in a tropical storm make you feel? How can you tell that the painting is of a storm? What movement do you see in the painting? Does the second painting show movement? What do you see in the Rabbit?

Textured Tissue Paper Jungle Animal:

1. Lightly sketch/draw your animal of choice. We are using a mandrill, but Rousseau did many other animals.
   
2. Here are the steps on how to draw Mandrill.
   
3. After you have drawn Mandrill you can start tearing tissue paper into small pieces. Think of all the ways you can make it look different. Roll it like a worm, twist it, ball it up, scrunch it.
   
4. Apply a layer of glue to the area you want to work on first. Press your tissue paper onto the glue.
   
5. Continue pressing tissue paper onto you piece until you have covered most of the space.
6. Voila! A Textured tissue paper jungle animal inspired by Henri Rousseau.

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

31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 10: Hunter

Title: Art From Her Heart
Estimated time: 45 minutes-1 hour
Project: Hunter Painting
About the artist:(1886-1988) Clementine Hunter (pronounced Clementeen) was a self taught African American folk artist, her grandmother was a slave. She lived in Louisiana on Melrose Plantation were she was a farm laborer. She never learned to read or write. Hunter didn't start painting until she was in her 50's, she sold her paintings for .25.
Summary: Read Art from the Heart, then study Hunter's work. Follow this lesson on making a painting inspired by Clementine Hunter.
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.
Painting Supplies:

• Pacon Poster Boards (PAC5417) or Darice 8-Inch-by-10-Inch Stretched Canvas, 2-Pack
  
• Plaid PROMOABI Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint, 2-Ounce, Best Selling Colors I
• Crayola 5ct Art and Craft Brush Set
• Cup for water

 Call to Church and Flowers, Cotton Pickers, Zinnias in a Pot

 Did Clementine paint what she knew? What do the paintings say about her life? Do they depict a time in history? Are they realistic? What colors does she use?

Clementine Hunter Painting:

1. Think of a scene in your everyday life or flowers. Lightly sketch your idea on your board or canvas. 
   
2. Start with the background first, that's the area around your figures or subject.
3. Painting from background to foreground helps you paint layers.
4. Voila! A Painting inspired by Clementine Hunter.

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

31 Days of Children's Books Inspired by Artists- DAY 9: Chagall

Title: Journey on a Cloud
Estimated time: 45 minutes-1 hour
Project: Chagall Watercolor Mug 
About the artist:(1885-1985) Marc Chagall was born in Russia. He had 9 brothers/sisters. They were Jewish so they had to change their last name from Shagal to Chagall. Marc Chagall and his family were in extreme danger following Hitler’s invasion of France during World War 2. Not only were they Jewish, but Chargall’s well-known artwork was inspired by his Jewish upbringing. He moved to the US in 1941 with his family. He drew from memories to fantasy. I am the Village is one of his most well know paintings. The large green face on the right and the horse on the left are very recognizable.
Summary: Read Journey on a Cloud, then study his work. Follow this lesson to create Watercolor mug inspired by Chagall.
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.
Watercolor Mug Supplies:

• MOD PODGE Plaid Dishwasher Safe Gloss, 16-Ounce
  
• Loew Cornell 841 20-Piece Foam Brush Set, 2-Inch
  
• White Undecorated 11 oz Mug
  
• Gift Wrap Bag Tissue Paper Multi Color 25 Sheets 20 x 20 Inch Made in USA
  
  
  

 Newlyweds with Eiffel Tower in the Background: 1983, I and the Village: 1911, The Circus Horse: 1964

 

What color do you see the most? Do you see any strange animals? Who is performing in the circus rink? Which one if your favorite and why?

Chagall Watercolor Mug:

1. Tear pieces of different colors of tissue paper. You want the jagged edges.
2. Apply a thin coat of modge podge to your mug. We did this a little at a time so it doesn't dry before you stick paper to it.

3. Place tissue paper on the modge podge. Repeat.

4. Coat the top of the tissue paper with another layer of modge podge.
5. Make sure you don't apply paper along the edge of the mug. Leave about an inch or so, so you have a place to sip from.
6. Voila! A Tissue Paper Mug inspired by Marc Chagall.

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