Inspired by Jean Dubuffet

Painting by Jean Dubuffet 

Abstract Paintings inspired by Joan Miro

Third and fourth grade artists learned about Spanish artist Joan Miro.  We looked at examples of his work and identified the types of shapes, lines, colors and textures he used most frequently in his paintings.




Here are paintings made by third and fourth graders.  They worked in layers over several art classes. These paintings are on large paper. 

I should note that students photographed their own artwork using iPads and edited the photos for the best results.  This ties into our "Presenting" National Core Art Standard.

Mondrian Squares in Primary Colors

Dutch artist Piet Mondrian was well known for his artwork made up of straight black lines and primary colors.  He created grids using vertical and horizontal lines.  

"I construct lines and color combinations on a flat surface, in order to express general beauty with the utmost awareness. Nature (or, that which I see) inspires me, puts me, as with any painter, in an emotional state so that an urge comes about to make something, but I want to come as close as possible to the truth and abstract everything from that, until I reach the foundation (still just an external foundation!) of things…

I believe it is possible that, through horizontal and vertical lines constructed with awareness, but not with calculation, led by high intuition, and brought to harmony and rhythm, these basic forms of beauty, supplemented if necessary by other direct lines or curves, can become a work of art, as strong as it is true." - Piet Mondrian, (Netherlands, 1872-1944)

First and second grade artists were inspired by Mondrian's artwork.  We used black paper strips to create the grids, then painted the rectangles and squares with the primary colors.  

Wind paintings and poetry by grades one and two

First and second graders used their breath to paint these beautiful paintings, using straws and liquid watercolor paint.  We started with the primary colors so that we could observe color mixing. Then we experimented with other combinations. They remind me of fireworks, which fits nicely with our Chinese New Year theme. 

After creating two wind paintings apiece, artists wrote poems or observations about their artwork. I posted these alongside the paintings. This was a fun way to bring a bit of the Common Core into the art room and get students talking about their artwork. Their paintings brought to mind so many great images, including gnarled witches fingers, fiery asteroids, moose antlers and rivers.