Title – The Wonderful World of Mr. Matisse

By – Hollie Regalo

Subject – Art

Grade Level – 2nd-4th

In this lesson, students will learn about Henri Matisse and his cutouts, and they will produce an abstract collage.

Objectives:

1. TLW understand the terms “abstract”, “collage”,
and “pattern”.

2. TLW recognize the cutout work of Henri Matisse.

3. TLW create an abstract collage which uses pattern and
which is balanced.

Supplies:

12 x 18″ white drawing paper,
scissors, glue,
6 x 9″ construction paper, various colors,
4.5 x 6″ construction paper, various colors
(NOTE: Colors may be limited to certain schemes, such as
analogous, if desired.),
paper scraps (optional),
crayons / oil pastels (optional)

Time Needed:

Three 45-minute class periods.

Introduction:

Begin by giving a brief description of Matisse. Note that due to illness and age he became unable to paint, therefore he began experimenting with cutouts, using bright colors and unusual shapes. Explain that these works are called “collages”, which means that shapes were cut and stuck to a background to create a picture. Although Mr. Matisse had once painted rather realistically, his pictures gradually became more “abstract”, meaning that they did not look exactly like real life. His collages were very abstract, but recognizable objects can be found by looking closely. (I like to describe the size of “The Negress” in the U.S. National Gallery; students are amazed, and it provides an opportunity to discuss Matisse’s use of assistants in creating his pictures.)

Show examples of Matisse’s work and discuss the shapes that students see. The titles are evocative, so I begin by reading the title (i.e.: “The Beasts of The Sea”) and asking, “Do you see any…(sea creatures)…in this picture?” Note how similar shapes are repeated across the picture, which creates a “pattern” (or “repetition” for older students), helping to move our eyes around the picture while tying the composition together.

Instruction:

At this point, explain that the class will be making an abstract collage using some of Mr. Matisse’s ideas.

1. Give each child a piece of drawing paper. Ask them to
choose either vertical or horizontal positioning.

2. Have students choose 2 pieces of 6 x 9″ construction paper.
They will be using all of the paper.

3. Ask them to hold their colored paper vertically for a
vertical picture, or horizontally for a horizontal picture.
Starting at the bottom of the piece, demonstrate how to cut
an interesting abstract shape, eventually returning to the
bottom of the piece. This should result in a “cutout” (or
“positive”) shape, and a “leftover” (or "negative”) shape,
both of which are in one piece.

4. Have students glue one of their negative shapes in a top
corner of their background paper, lining up the edges neatly.

5. Ask them to reposition the positive shape within the
negative shape (“fit it together like a puzzle”), then FLIP
the positive shape down beneath the negative one and glue
it into place, creating a mirror-image effect.
(This is easier shown than explained, so try it first!)

6. Repeat the process on the other half of the background
paper, reversing the location of positive and negative.
This will give them a visually balanced base, upon which
they can pile shapes as they like, using 4.5 x 6″ pieces.

7. Students are now free to add other shapes, particularly
ones which repeat. I take this time to discuss how repeated
shapes help “pull the picture together”, or unify it.
Matisse sometimes used small repeating shapes to create a
pathway for our eyes; point these out within his pictures
and demonstrate similar ways of using repeating shapes to
create unity and interest.

8. Students may wish to find recognizable objects within their
pictures and continue along that theme, or they may wish to
keep it nonobjective. I allow both as long as they are “not
exactly like real life” (you may wish to discuss the
difference between abstraction and nonobjective in-depth
with older students).

9. Monitor to ensure that students are creating visually
balanced compositions; some get carried away!

10. Towards the end of this project, I allow students to use my
paper-scrap box for additional pieces, and crayons for lines.

Closure:

Review key terms and concepts. Students can classify each other’s work as abstract or nonobjective; tell the class how they used patterns to unify their collage; or even write a story about their own picture or one of Matisse’s. Display some pictures, as they will get many compliments!

GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE…

I incorporated the Matisse lesson from Masterpiece of the Month (I hope that’s right!) into the first steps of this lesson, but the rest is mine. :-)

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Hollie

!