Introduction
Have you ever been doing one thing and then you were reminded of something else completely, seemingly from nowhere? For example, you hear a song in the grocery store that reminds you a specific time, place or memory in your past. Or you smell something like a special baked treat while you are at a family member’s house that reminds you of something else that happened in a past situation. These experiences can be good experiences or bad experiences depending on the memory that is conjured up. It’s nice to think about how such seemingly insignificant experiences can mean the world to us as individuals with unique, one-of-a-kind lives.
Wassily Kandinsky was a famous painter from Russia who associated many of his paintings with the music that he loved so much. Kandinsky was born to musical parents, and he loved to experiment making art with many different colors and shapes as a child. Kandinsky originally went to school to become a lawyer, but he later chose to leave that career and devote his full time to studying art. Kandinsky is one of the first artists to paint abstractly using a variety of different colors, shapes and lines.
Task
For this activity we are going to create art like Kandinsky using many shapes and colors! For this activity you will need:
- 9x12in white mixed media paper
- Pastels
- Black crayon or colored pencil
- Optional - Stencils available in a variety of shapes and sizes
Process
Steps to complete this activity:
1. Trace or draw a mixture of organic and geometric shapes on your paper that overlap each other to create interesting spaces. Make sure your black lines are beautifully bold!
2. Color in each unique shape or space that you see in with crayon pastels. Make sure your color is bold and bright!
Evaluation
"Abstract Shapes" Activity Rubric
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Understanding |
Craftmanship |
Comments |
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Excellent understanding of the assignment. Appropriate use of art materials. Various uses of line and shape to create a composition. |
Excellent hand skills. Work is creative and readable |
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Good understanding of the assignment. Good use of art materials. Various use of line to create an composition. |
Good quality of work. Shows effort and attention to detail. |
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Basic understanding of the assignment. Needed reminders on the goals and parameters of the assignment. Adequate use of art materials to complete the assignment.
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Quality of work is okay. Some parts show more care than others. Inconsistent quality. |
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Understood some aspects of the assignment but misunderstood the overall concept, how to use art materials and tools effectively. |
Work is poorly made. Looks rushed, haphazardly drawn, no attention to detail. |
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Did not understand and/or complete the assignment. No evidence of understanding how to use art materials and/or inappropriate use of art materials. |
Works shows lack of care. Poorly made. |
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Conclusion
Now that you've completed your Abstract Shapes project compare it to Kandinsky's painting on the first page.
- Did you use a variety of colors?
- Do your shapes look like they can be moving or dancing?
- Have you colored in all of the interesting spaces in your art piece?
Congratulations on completing your project. Go and give this great piece of work to someone you love or hang it somewhere special!
Credits
Wassily Kandinsky: the painter of sound and vision
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2006/jun/24/art.art
Art Smart: A lesson in Shape, Mondrian & Oil Pastels
http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2010/05/art-smart-a-lesson-in-shape-mondrian-oil-pastels/