Learning Our Lines with Piet Mondrian in Kindergarten

                                                          (an image of Piet Mondrian)

Piet Mondrian was a dutch painter who created non-representational form which he termed Neo-Plasticism. His paintings were created with  a white background with a grid of vertical and horizontal black lines and the three primary colors.

In the beginning of the school year, I like to start out with the simplest of elements with the kindergarten students: lines!  This project is also a good way to introduce the three primary colors as well.

Materials

-10" x 10" white paper
-12" x 12" primary color paper (red, yellow, blue, and even some black)
-1 1/2" x 10" primary color and black strips of paper
-glue
-a writing utensil for student names

Objectives

My main focus for this project is to have the students identify lines that are vertical (up and down), and horizontal (side by side).  After identifying the two lines, I also discuss the primary colors that Piet used to create his works of art.

This project takes one 40-minute class period to discuss and create.  I start by showing students a poster of Piet's "Composition II in Red, Yellow and Blue (seen above)," and discuss the lines seen in the painting.

After showing students the painting, I begin to show how they can create their own composition piece using pre-cut lines.  I like to have students work with me on creating the piece, so I ask the students with each strip of paper "Which was is vertical?"  "Which way is horizontal?"  and I even try sneaking in a diagonal...which I hear students say "No!!!!"  Kindergarteners are so much fun.

This is another opportunity I use to show how to use a glue bottle responsibly.  I don't use glue sticks in my room, so I start all the kindergarteners off right away with the glue bottle.  We go over the "just a dot, not a lot" trick, and practice twisting the orange tip, not the white cap (I use elmer's glue bottles).

After students complete their Mondrian compositions, they glue the 12" x 12" colored paper to the back for a frame, and they're complete!  Since open house is within a week on school starting, this is the first and only project I have completed for display in the hallways.

You may get a few students who miss the main concept, so try keeping your eyes open to correct those who start going diagonally!

Then you get students who don't quite finish enough of their project...

This looks about right!

Here are some videos I had found on Pinterest and Youtube to use with any Piet lesson!

Art Meets Literature: The Joys of Van Gogh's Cat

Last year, I found the book "Van Gogh's Cat" at our scholastic book fair.  I was excited to see that the book was written and illustrated by 2nd grade students in Muncie, Indiana.  I loved seeing how the students created their own artworks of famous art masterpieces, and created cats jumping out of each page.  I now own about 8 copies of this book: one at home for my daughter, 3 at my second school, and 4 for my home school.  You can say I want my kids to see the book everywhere!  After searching on Pinterest, I saw many lesson ideas inspired by the book too.

I decided to create a lesson inspired by the 2nd graders who created "Van Gogh's Cat.".  I wanted my students to create a picture inspired by a famous masterpiece, then have a cat jump out of their own picture.  I set up folders with colorful images of many famous artworks, and shared them at each table in my classroom.  The awesome part was that none of my students fought over pictures, shared without complaint, and didn't choose the "easy" pictures!

After the students created their pictures (I just used markers and colored pencils on 9" x 12" paper), I had them trace a cat shape on the back of their pictures, then attempt to cut the cat out without cutting from the edge of the paper (for those who were afraid to attempt it, I just pinched a cut in the middle of the paper to start them off).  The students then glued their picture on one side of 12" x 18" paper, and their cat on the other side.

After my students created their pictures, I felt that the school needed to see how I combine art and literature.  I decided to create a bulletin board to share what the students learned, what they created, and a little information about the artist.  Here's my results:

I needed something to draw everyone's attention in the hallway.  If the superintendent or curriculum director walked by, I wanted them to stop and read.

Van Gogh's "Starry Night."  Of course we needed this one...the book was called "Van Gogh's Cat" after all!!!

Henri Matisse's "Fall of Icarus."  It's fun to explain to students that not all body drawings have to be perfect.

Claude Monet's "Bridge Argenteuil."  I'm so glad a student picked this one!  It shows that he liked teh composition more than choosing something easy or abstract.

Piet Mondrian's "Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow." One of our BIP students created this one, and I loved how he focused on the work!  He loved the bright colors and filling his the space.

Andy Warhol's "Campbell Soup."  I'm glad I found a chance to share multiple artists with this project.  The students loved the idea of choosing their own.  I'm very happy that some students wanted to take on the challenge of drawing multiple cans, and they never gave up!

Georgia's O'Keefe's "Red Poppy."  Great composition, and beautiful craftsmanship with this challenge!

Alma Woodsey Thomas's "The Eclipse."  I love talking about Alma's abstract work...so much that I introduce her to two different grade levels!

SImple Art Room Fixer-Uppers Part 2

Funny story...

I went to install my cabinets, and found that two sets were mismatched.  I guess I should have labelled them right when I took them down to bring home!  Lesson learned, I brought the two doors home and repainted them.

As I was installing the cabinet doors and setting up the classroom, I was looking at another set of doors that were driving me nuts.  So, I brought the next set home and before midnight I had Klimt's "Tree of Life" painted!

Here are the finished, installed doors in the room!

Set #1: Piet Mondrian!

Set #2: Henri Matisse

Set #3: Keith Haring

Set #4: Vincent Van Gogh

Set #5: Gustav Klimt

Now that my home base school is set up, I can tackle my next classroom at my second school next week!  My next challenge:  Starting a classroom from scratch (I'm used to teaching from a cart at my second school!)

Simple Art Room Fixer-Uppers

With traveling to three schools, I was extremely lucky to have one art room at one of the schools.  I do share it with the music department, but the storage is packed with supplies.  With this being my sixth year in the room, I asked permission to re-paint the cabinet doors since they were due.  After permission was granted, I took the doors off the hinges and brought them home (after covering up the cabinets with plastic) and handed in my key for the summer.  Here's a before picture, so you can see how badly this was needed:

I discovered something quite helpful: Latex paint peels off really good in 100+ degree heat.  After going stir crazy in my house and planning my pictures, I went into the garage, set up a sanding space, and went to town.  After peeling the top layer and sanding down the others, my cabinets were clean slates and ready for painting!

In case you're curious, I apologize, but I do not have pictures of the original cabinets being sanded.  It was hot, I was ambitious, and I forgot the camera to take before/after pictures.  When I re-install the cabinet doors back on, I will show you the before pictures from the cabinets still in the classroom!

Here is the end result!

Cabinet Set #1: Piet Mondrian.  I introduce Piet as my kindergarteners first project, teaching lines that go up/down and sideways, as well as primary colors.  What better way than to have it painted in the classroom to remind them!

Cabinet Set #2: Henri Matisse. I introduce Henri to my 2nd graders, then re-visit in 6th grade.  I enjoyed "The Fall of Icarus" for it's simplicity and use of organic shapes.

Cabinet Set #3: Keith Haring.  I love Keith's style and messages he shares in many of his artworks.  As the first project with my 5th graders, I show them how to draw in Keith's cartoon style while trying to convey a positive message for their community.

Cabinet Set #4: Vincent Van Gogh.  Can you tell I saved the best for last?  I had so much fun painting this one!  I put both doors together to create one whole image!  I introduce this image in 4th grade, but re-visit in 5th grade as well.  There's so many projects that can be made due to this painting's inspiration.  I also can't wait to hear the students say "Whoah!!!" when they enter the room!

In August, I will be making my way back toe room to set up and organize materials for the next school year.  Please stay tuned for viewing the cabinets in their spots next month!

If you are blessed with a room to use, have some fun with it, but make sure you have permission first.  Expect that your work may not last forever, but enjoy it while you can.

And here's a set installed!

Stay tuned for Part 2 in August!