Henri Matisse for Kids |
| Feb 16 2012 |
| {Articles >> Art History - Artists} |
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| Henri Matisse, The Snail, 1953 |
The works of Henri Matisse are often used for children's art education. Although Matisse was a significant modernist artist, with complex, cerebral art theory behind his work, his work is colorful and approachable; this is a great way to introduce kids (and adults) to modern art.
With his Fauvist works, Matisse combines colors and shapes in a fluid, expressionist manner. Young art students can try approaching a still life or portrait like a Matisse; combine unexpected, unrealistic colors straight from the paintbox. This is a great way for the new artist to get away from the constraining notion that art has to look realistic.
With his decoupage (cut-out) works, Matisse reduces painting to a form of minimalist sculpture. Flat, bright shapes, cut in loose, organic shapes are arranged on a flat background. This is a great exercise is reducing an artwork to its basic elements; it's also a great way to introduce the idea of composition without getting into heavy design vocabulary.
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