Wassily Wassily KandinskyKandinsky

1866-19441866-1944

The Founder of The Founder of Abstract ArtAbstract Art

Wassily Kandinsky took music and art lessons as a Wassily Kandinsky took music and art lessons as a child in Russia, but he did not become a child in Russia, but he did not become a professional artist until he was 30 years old. He professional artist until he was 30 years old. He gave up his job as a law professor and moved to gave up his job as a law professor and moved to Germany to study art. In those days, people Germany to study art. In those days, people thought that a drawing or painting had to look like thought that a drawing or painting had to look like its subject – the more realistic the better. The its subject – the more realistic the better. The Impressionist painters started to paint pictures that Impressionist painters started to paint pictures that didn’t look exactly real. Kandinsky was the first didn’t look exactly real. Kandinsky was the first artist to take the final step away from realism: he artist to take the final step away from realism: he painted the first totally abstract pictures, paintings painted the first totally abstract pictures, paintings that were pure designs, and believed that colors that were pure designs, and believed that colors and forms had meanings on their own. He was a and forms had meanings on their own. He was a musician as well and thought of colors as music.musician as well and thought of colors as music.

Music & ArtMusic & ArtWatch this video showing the music Watch this video showing the music within Kandinsky’s artwork.within Kandinsky’s artwork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d63qohWJ-o&feature=related

Yellow-Red-BlueYellow-Red-Blue

Several CirclesSeveral Circles

Composition VIIIComposition VIII

Composition IXComposition IX

Watch how one Watch how one person added person added

movementmovementhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBwQrnEfhTk&feature=related

It’s It’s Your Your

Turn – Turn – Try Try ThisThis

Now try this – Now try this – How many circles How many circles can you fit on a can you fit on a

page?page?

Squares with Squares with Concentric CirclesConcentric Circles

Your ProjectYour Project1. Start with a 9" x 12" paper, and fold it in

half; and then in thirds so that you have 2 rows of 3 squares.

2. Using oil pastels, make a circle in the middle of each square fill it in. Then they gradually add rings of different colors around it, some thick and some thin until they reach the edge of the square. The corners are filled in as needed.

3. Continue until all the squares are filled in. Remember - slow, solid coloring is going to look much better than quick scribbles.

4. 4th and 5th graders are challenged to use different color theme in each square. For example: warm colors, cool colors, neutral colors, complementary colors, etc.