Kandinsky First Grade Art Project Presentation prepared by NW PTA January 2017 First Grade Art Project Northwood Elementary PTA Art Enrichment Program

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Lesson Overview Grade: 1 Name of Lesson: Kandinsky/ Painting to music Medium: Paper, watercolor Time: lesson is approximately 1 hour Volunteers: 1 plus the lead   Project Overview/Skills: Students will look at works by Wassily Kandinsky and then do their own improvisational, abstract watercolors while listening to 3 different types of music.

Kandinsky Materials Materials/Home Preparation: Watercolor paper (approximately 11” x 15” or larger) Watercolors of various colors Brushes Source of music on CD or on Art Docent Post-Lesson Email the Parent Letter for this lesson to your room parent (available on the PTA website under ”Art Docent Volunteer Resources”) and ask your room parent to forward it to the class. The letter gives the parents context for the lesson their student completed and this step helps ensure on-going support of the Northwood PTA Art Docent program! NOTE: You may want to add the titles of the music that inspired the student artwork to the parent letter before you send out!

Art Lesson Kandinsky (CAN-DIN-SKEE) believed that simple pictures were like little melodies and complex paintings were like grand symphonies. Wassily Kandinsky took music and art lessons as a child in Russia, but he did not become a professional artist until he was 30 years old. He gave up his job as a law professor and moved to Germany to study art. In those days, people thought that a drawing or painting had to look like its subject- the more realistic, the better. The impressionist painters started to paint pictures that didn’t look exactly real. Kandinsky was the first artist to take the final step away from realism: he painted the first totally abstract pictures, paintings that were pure designs, and believed that colors and forms had meanings all their own. He was a musician as well as a painter, and thought of colors as music. Simple pictures were like little melodies to him. Complex paintings were like symphonies. He called many of his paintings “Improvisations”, meaning a song made up on the spot, not planned ahead of time.

Wassily Kandinsky Painted abstract pictures He was a musician as well as a painter and thought of colors as music. Believed pictures were like melodies and symphonies Called many of his paintings improvisations – made up on the spot Kandinsky (CAN-DIN-SKEE) believed that simple pictures were like little melodies and complex paintings were like grand symphonies. Wassily Kandinsky took music and art lessons as a child in Russia, but he did not become a professional artist until he was 30 years old. He gave up his job as a law professor and moved to Germany to study art. In those days, people thought that a drawing or painting had to look like its subject- the more realistic, the better. The impressionist painters started to paint pictures that didn’t look exactly real. Kandinsky was the first artist to take the final step away from realism: he painted the first totally abstract pictures, paintings that were pure designs, and believed that colors and forms had meanings all their own. He was a musician as well as a painter, and thought of colors as music. Simple pictures were like little melodies to him. Complex paintings were like symphonies. He called many of his paintings “Improvisations”, meaning a song made up on the spot, not planned ahead of time. (1866-1944)

Composition VII

Composition VII Storm How does this art make you feel? What do you notice about the shapes and colors?

Improvisation 35

White Dot What shapes do you notice? How does this art make you feel? What kind of music does it make you think of?

Today’s Project You will paint your own symphony! We will listen to three different kinds of music and you will paint an improvisational piece of abstract art for each of the three music selections.

Step 1- Prepare your Paper Fold the paper into three equal parts and then flatten it back down. You will be making three improvisational pieces of art. Each piece will go in a section of the paper. Write your name on the back of your paper Cutting of contact paper and hearts should be done ahead of time Prepping a corner so that they can easily and quickly peeled would also be helpful for quick application Taping the contact paper down to the desk should also be done before the lesson as it takes quite a bit of time to do for a full class of students- plan on 30 minutes for 3 people to do this ahead of time Likewise, at the end it also takes time to put on the other side of the contact paper. It is recommended to have the kids help clean up or go to the rug and read a book while volunteers are doing this.

Step 2- Imagine the Art I will play the first piece of music. We will close our eyes and listen to the music selection for 2 or 5 minutes without doing anything else. Stretch out on the floor if desired or put head down on desk. Try to imagine what colors, lines and shapes can be used to show the feelings that the music creates.

Step 3- Paint the Music Now listen to the same music again while painting a picture of the sounds. (eyes open) Use lines shapes and colors without trying to draw any particular object. Create an abstract design that is made up on the spot- an improvisation created without planning or sketching ahead of time.

Step 4- Paint More Music Now listen to the next piece of music and paint again. Use lines shapes and colors without trying to draw any particular object. Create an abstract design that is made up on the spot- an improvisation. Listen to the third music selection and and paint again. Look at the different results to different kinds of music.   Note: You may need to play the song many times over again to let the students have enough time to fill the paper.