second grade
Matisse Still Life
Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954) was a very famous French artist. When he was 21 years old he had appendicitis and his mother bought him his first box of paints to help him during recovery. This is when he discovered his love of art and decided to become a painter. It's a good thing that happened because Matisse is one of the two most important artists of the early 20th century (the other one is Picasso).
One of the things Matisse did in his paintings that was so influential was the way he used color: he used bright, bold colors with aggressive brush strokes, and he didn't even care if the colors didn't match with the way things looked in the real world.
One of the things Matisse did in his paintings that was so influential was the way he used color: he used bright, bold colors with aggressive brush strokes, and he didn't even care if the colors didn't match with the way things looked in the real world.
Look at the picture of "The Purple Robe." How many colors do you see? Do you think what you see is exactly how the room looked when he painted it, with all those colors and patterns going every which way? Notice how he repeats some colors to unify the painting, and also how he uses some areas of black, grey and white to quiet down the vibrant colors everywhere else.
Also notice the PATTERNS created in each section of the picture. How many different patterns do you see? How many of the patterns are variations on the bold vertical stripe? By changing the stripe, through color and line, Matisse has added interest to the work and repeated a theme through REPETITION.
Another thing that is typical of Matisse is the way the picture looks flat (no roundness to the person or illusion of depth in the room), accentuated by the heavy black outlines around much of the objects. The woman appears to be so flat in the painting that she almost looks like she is standing up. The table is at a definite slant and the floor goes up hill. But, the flatness of the painting seems to agree with the wild choice of colors. It serves to upset the balance and make the picture more interesting to look at.
Today we are going to make a work of art based on Matisse's "The Purple Robe." We are going to create patterns for the background, just like the painting, and we are going to create a vase with flowers just like the still life in the painting. A still life is an arrangement of objects, usually including fruit and flowers, and usually placed on a table, which is exactly what Matisse has in this picture. We are not going to worry about the woman though (whew!).
Also notice the PATTERNS created in each section of the picture. How many different patterns do you see? How many of the patterns are variations on the bold vertical stripe? By changing the stripe, through color and line, Matisse has added interest to the work and repeated a theme through REPETITION.
Another thing that is typical of Matisse is the way the picture looks flat (no roundness to the person or illusion of depth in the room), accentuated by the heavy black outlines around much of the objects. The woman appears to be so flat in the painting that she almost looks like she is standing up. The table is at a definite slant and the floor goes up hill. But, the flatness of the painting seems to agree with the wild choice of colors. It serves to upset the balance and make the picture more interesting to look at.
Today we are going to make a work of art based on Matisse's "The Purple Robe." We are going to create patterns for the background, just like the painting, and we are going to create a vase with flowers just like the still life in the painting. A still life is an arrangement of objects, usually including fruit and flowers, and usually placed on a table, which is exactly what Matisse has in this picture. We are not going to worry about the woman though (whew!).
The Project
Prep: One hour, including making a sample
Print: Matisse, The Purple Robe
Materials:
1 - 9 x 12" construction paper for backing (any color, it won't show)
4 - 4-1/2 x 6" rectangles of various colored construction paper
oil pastels
1 - 6 x 9" white paper (for vase of flowers)
marking pens (markers)
Glue sticks or glue bottles, your preference
Scissors
Project:
1. Give each student four different colors of the 4-1/2 x 6" papers. Have them use oil pastels to draw a simple repeating pattern on each of the four papers. Use contrasting color pastels to the paper color (notice how Matisse uses color in his patterns).
Note: Simple patterns work best here. Lines, wavy or straight, swirled or checked. Dots and dashes, etc. There should be a different pattern on each of the four papers.
2. Have the students glue the four squares to the backing paper. Set aside.
3. Using marking pens (and pastels too, if desired), students should draw and color a vase with flowers on the white paper. You might want to model a few types of vase shapes on the white board for the students. Also, encourage them to fill up the page as much as possible. The vase can also be patterned if the children desire.
4. Cut out the vase and flowers and glue to the center of the 9 x 12" page with the patterned rectangles. Have the students use pens to sign their name at the bottom, like a signature. They could also include a date.
Print: Matisse, The Purple Robe
Materials:
1 - 9 x 12" construction paper for backing (any color, it won't show)
4 - 4-1/2 x 6" rectangles of various colored construction paper
oil pastels
1 - 6 x 9" white paper (for vase of flowers)
marking pens (markers)
Glue sticks or glue bottles, your preference
Scissors
Project:
1. Give each student four different colors of the 4-1/2 x 6" papers. Have them use oil pastels to draw a simple repeating pattern on each of the four papers. Use contrasting color pastels to the paper color (notice how Matisse uses color in his patterns).
Note: Simple patterns work best here. Lines, wavy or straight, swirled or checked. Dots and dashes, etc. There should be a different pattern on each of the four papers.
2. Have the students glue the four squares to the backing paper. Set aside.
3. Using marking pens (and pastels too, if desired), students should draw and color a vase with flowers on the white paper. You might want to model a few types of vase shapes on the white board for the students. Also, encourage them to fill up the page as much as possible. The vase can also be patterned if the children desire.
4. Cut out the vase and flowers and glue to the center of the 9 x 12" page with the patterned rectangles. Have the students use pens to sign their name at the bottom, like a signature. They could also include a date.
Citations:
- Henri Matisse, Calla Lilies, Irises and Mimosas 1913. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/calla-lilies-irises-and-mimosas-1913
- Henri Matisse, Daisies 1919. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/daisies-1919
- Henri Matisse, Poppies 1919. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/poppies
- Henri Matisse, Interior with Dog 1934. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/the-red-table-1939
- Henri Matisse, Purple Robe and Anemones 1937. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/purple-robe-and-anemones-1937
- Henri Matisse, Le Tabac Royal 1943. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/le-tabac-royal-1943
- Henri Matisse, Still Life with Lemons 1943. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/still-life-with-lemons-1943
- Henri Matisse, Anemones and Peach Blossoms. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/anemones-and-peach-blossoms-1944
- Henri Matisse, Interior in Yellow 1946. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/interior-in-yellow-1946
- Henri Matisse, Self Portrait 1918. www.wikiart.org, https://www.wikiart.org/en/henri-matisse/self-portrait-1918