Art Masterpiece:
Piet Mondrian
(Composition II) – to the right
Grade: 4th
Lesson: Geometric design with primary colors
Activity: Have the students create a Mondrian-like
collage using construction paper in the three primary
colors, and black and white. They will arrange their squares and rectangles using
informal balance as Mondrian used.
Materials:
9” x 12” white construction paper – 1 per student
Glue
Construction paper in red, blue and yellow – to cut out various shaped squares and
rectangles – ½ sheet of each color per student
1 “ wide strips of black paper – approximately 5 per student
Rulers
Scissors
About the Artist:
Pieter Cornelisu Mondriaan, Jr, was a Dutch abstract painter born in Amersfoot (he is
usually referred to as Piet Mondrian). He painted in a spare, precise, geometric manner
mostly using primary colors. It was a style that Mondrian called Neo-Plasticism
(“nieuwe bleeding” in Dutch).
Mondrian was born on March 7, 1872 in Amersfoot, the Netherlands. After studying to
be a teacher, Mondrian studied art at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten
(Amsterdam Academy of Fine Arts) from 1892 until 1897. During this time, he painted
mostly landscapes (including a series of trees.)
He moved to Paris, France, around 1912. During World War 1, he moved back to the
Netherlands. In 1917, he, Theo van Doesburg, and some others founded a very
influential art magazine called “De Stijl”, which means, “The Style”.
In 1919, Mondrian returned to Paris, where he stayed until 1938. That year he moved to
London, England, where he painted for two years. In 1940, he moved to New York,
USA, where he spend the final years of his life.
Mondrian’s paintings did not sell very well during his lifetime. Mondrian had his first
one-man show when he was 70 years old. It was at the Valetin Dudensing Gallery in
New York City. Piet Mondrian died of pnemonia on February 1, 1944.
Process:
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Have the students cut out various sizes of squares and rectangles – 2 to 3 of
each color, depending on the size.
Arrange the shapes on the white construction paper using informal balance.
Leave some areas of the white paper visible so that there are also white
squares and rectangles. Have students try various placements. (Do not begin
gluing until the very end.)
Glue colored squares and rectangles on the white paper.
Students will then use the black strips to divide the colors. They will have to
cut some of them to fit the outlines on the paper.
Glue black strips of paper to make the grid design appear. Remind them that
white (negative areas) can also be divided into smaller sections by the
placement of these black strips.
The entire composition should be made up of only squares and rectangular
shapes.
Art Masterpiece – 4th Grade – November – Piet Mondrian – Composition II
Today your child studied the artist, Piet Mondrian, for Art
Masterpiece. Mondrian was born in the Netherlands and was a
contributor to the De Stijl art movement (The Style). Your
student created an art project in Mondrian style using primary
colors with black lines and squares and rectangles created out of
colored construction paper.
Art Masterpiece – 4th Grade – November – Piet Mondrian – Composition II
Today your child studied the artist, Piet Mondrian, for Art
Masterpiece. Mondrian was born in the Netherlands and was a
contributor to the De Stijl art movement (The Style). Your
student created an art project in Mondrian style using primary
colors with black lines and squares and rectangles created out of
colored construction paper.
Art Masterpiece – 4th Grade – November – Piet Mondrian – Composition II
Today your child studied the artist, Piet Mondrian, for Art
Masterpiece. Mondrian was born in the Netherlands and was a
contributor to the De Stijl art movement (The Style). Your
student created an art project in Mondrian style using primary
colors with black lines and squares and rectangles created out of
colored construction paper.