Modern Mondrian
Experiment with primary colors and geometric shapes in the style of Piet Mondrian! Create a template to make one huge, ultramodern design!
1. Research art and theories of painting by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). Notice his use of primary colors and basic geometric shapes divided by solid black lines. Find out how Mondrian used these basic shapes to represent real objects.
2. Cut 1/4-inch (6 mm) strips of oak tag or recycled file folders. Use them to create a grid-like web with various shapes of negative spaces between the strips, much like the black lines in a Mondrian painting.
3. Use Crayola School Glue to place your pieces in a web that is slightly larger than Crayola Color Explosion™ paper. Air-dry your web.
4. Lay your web template on top of the black side of Color Explosion paper. Tape the edges to your art surface to hold the template in place.
5. Trace several of the shapes along the web’s edges. Refer back to a Mondrian painting to help determine how many lines should be left solid and black. When you are satisfied, remove the web.
6. Choose several shapes to fill with color. Consider the balance of your artwork---spread out the shapes you color. Use sweeping lines that barely overlap. Enjoy the BURST of color that Mondrian could have only dreamed about!
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Color Explosion™ Black—Wash hands well with soap and water after use.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
- Use the same template to create a diagonal design. Compare and contrast the different effects.
- Trade templates with classmates to make unique versions of a friend’s map. Make multiple sheets using the same templates. Display with edges touching to create one large work.
- Relate Mondrian’s design to a street map of your community.
- Assessment: Students are successful if they create a design with basic geometric shapes that uses solid black horizontal and vertical lines and color in a balanced number of squares and rectangles.
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