Turn your students' paintings into museum-worthy art.
Elementary students are just developing as artists. Studying and imitating well-known artists exercises their creative young minds. Whether using painted paper or paint-covered cotton swabs, adapting famous styles will turn your classroom into an art studio. Kindergarten to 5th-grade students can achieve frame-worthy art inspired by the best of the art world.
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French painter. Near the end of his life, Matisse created a technique that he called "painting with scissors." This brightly colored cut-and-paste art can be adapted for any age. A lesson about Matisse requires lots of construction paper. Encourage students who can effectively handle scissors to cut the paper into nongeometric shapes. Other students can rip the paper as needed. Without using pencils, pens or markers, the paper collage allows students of any age to show their creativity.
Eric Carle
Eric Carle is the well-known illustrator and author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and numerous other books. Carle created his illustrations by cutting his own painted tissue paper. This type of collage works best for 1st- through 5th-grade students. To imitate Carle's style, first make the painted paper. Have students paint large sheets of paper (11 by 17 inches or larger) a solid color. Carle chooses to use watered-down acrylic paint. While the paint is still wet, encourage students to add texture to the paper by using combs, sponges and other tools. Once the paper dries, instruct students to make an animal using the painted paper. Carle's books featured caterpillars and brown bears. The only limitation for your students is their own creativity. As the final step, glue the animal onto a simple white background.
Georges Seurat
Pointillism is a painting technique that creates a realistic image by using layered dots of solid colors. Rather than painting a large area with a broad stroke, pointillism pioneers like Georges Seurat created works of art with dots. On watercolor or another thicker paper stock, instruct students to lightly draw a simple image they want to paint --- suns, flowers and trees are good. The lines should be so faint they can barely be seen. Drawings need to be simple since cotton swabs will create the dots. When preparing this lesson, premix the paint in plastic plates so cotton swabs have a place to rest. When students begin to paint, encourage them to make only dots and take their time. For older students, adding an additional layer in a slightly darker color will add more depth to the painting.
Jackson Pollock
Using unconventional techniques, Jackson Pollock turned art upside-down. He placed his canvas on the floor and flung paint onto it. Creating your own Pollock-making studio requires an outside space against a wall, an old sheet and duct tape. Position the sheet so half of it covers the ground and wall from the flying paint. Add some water to the paint so it will drip easier. Allow students to choose how they want to apply the paint; old toothbrushes, turkey basters, wooden dowels and plastic forks work well. On a sheet of paper placed in the middle of the sheet, let students splatter the paint in whatever way they wish. After the work of art is dry, ask each student to name his work with a number --- just like the iconic artist. For a less messy, electronic way to create your own Pollock-inspired masterpiece, visit the Jackson Pollock website (see Resources).
