1st grade Matisse still life collages

Matisse Still Life Collages

Children love Henri Matisse. His vibrant colors and cut paper collages are beautiful and kid friendly. I found this great idea from https://wilderpaintsplatters.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/marvelous-matisse-cut-outs/. It was a lot of work for my 1st graders but they had fun creating it. This art project is based on his painting titled "The Goldfish".

On the first day students painted a 12" x 18" piece of multi-media paper with three colors of tempera paint. We used rulers to mark off the room.

On the second day students painted a 6" x 9" piece of multi-media paper with liquid watercolors and then quickly placed a piece of plastic wrap on top to create the watery texture. This would be the paper they used for the fish bowl.  My first group of students used a 12" x 9" piece of paper but I found it to be to big for their fish bowls. Students need to do this part of the project quickly before the paint dries.

 Since I have fifty minute class periods students had time to create the paper cut-outs for their room. We discussed organic shapes and I taught them how to cut spirals. They loved this!

On the last day I taught students how to fold their watercolor papers in half and draw half of a fish bowl. I provided patterns for them to trace for their table and scraps of paper for goldfish and leaves.

And the finished products!!