Grandpa and I went to the New York Museum of Modern Art, “Matisse, The Cut-Outs” Show. We learned all about his process and saw hundreds of Matisse’s amazing works, including stained glass. We were surprised that there were not more children there. After learning how Matisse created these masterpieces, we looked close to see the pin marks in the art. He used gouache, which we looked up to find is white paper painted with a type of water-based paint, like watercolor, but opaque and reflective. Matisse had assistants create the gouache, which he then cut into the shapes. Matisse pinned, or had assistants pin, the colored shapes, and the outlines created when the shapes were cut out, on white canvas. He moved the shapes around until he was satisfied, or directed assistants to do so. Of course, he was a master, but we can learn and emulate masters too.
What wonders we can open up to grandchildren by sharing our knowledge of famous artists. We can start with videos and books. Matisse’s cut out period when he was grandpa age is a great place to begin as his works are simple collages and puzzles, which children can relate to. The Tate Museum in England had the exhibition first and there is a youtube video to use to introduce grandchildren of any age to Matisse.
The four minute video shows the highlights of the exhibition and explains how Matisse created the cut-outs, with the actual film of the artist himself.
There are several wonderful children’s books on Henri Matisse:
Matisse’s Garden Hardcover – by Samantha Friedman. Age Range: 4 – 8 years. Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Buy at Amazon.
Here is the Amazon blurb of a professional editorial review from School Library Journal of this top rated book:
Gr 1-3-Seemingly on a whim one day, artist Henri Matisse cut a bird out of white paper, pinned it on his wall, and created a brand-new art form. Eight of his cut-paper works, some appearing as gatefolds, are reproduced in this charming, kid-friendly informational picture book that briefly describes how Matisse began working in his new style and how it and he soared as a result. Amodeo fully captures Matisse’s inventive joy with her cut-paper illustrations, which work beautifully with the text and pop from the pages with brilliant, vivid colors, and kinetic energy. In a whimsical spread, the illustrator depicts the man flying to demonstrate how unfettered he felt as his scissors glided effortlessly through paper. Having started with white paper, Matisse eventually asked his assistants to paint paper against which to set his ever-larger cutouts that culminated in a studio “garden.” (In a delightful touch, the assistants are shown in a scene reminiscent of the artist’s La Danse.) Kids get cut- (or torn-) paper art intuitively and love playing with bright colors when creating their own masterpieces, and they’ll appreciate that this book validates their own ideas about the freedom that comes with artistic experimentation. A brief biographical paragraph and material about the artworks close out the book. This title also makes for a great read-aloud before collage projects and in art units on major artists and color theory. Excellent.
Also highly rated for young children is:
Henri’s Scissors Hardcover – by Jeanette Winter. Age Range: 5 – 8 years. Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3
Both of these first books can be bought together. Buy at Amazon.
Here is the Amazon blurb of a professional editorial review from School Library Journal of this top rated book:
K-Gr 3-At age 72, following surgery for cancer, Henri Matisse was too weak to paint. During his convalescence at the seaside, he picked up scissors and began cutting shapes from painted paper. In his own words, “It seems to me that I am in a second life.” Winter’s picture-book biography focuses on that second life, neatly summarizing his childhood and career in the first eight pages: “He kept on painting, forgot about law, and left his small town to be an artist in Paris.” Winter captures the joy that Matisse found in cut paper, both through her acrylic and cut-paper illustrations and through quotes from his letters. The images are evocative of his art, with bright colors and rounded shapes. The first pages, depicting his youth and adulthood, are deeply framed like museum art, then transition to full-page compositions when his life changes due to illness. The author addresses his death with a light touch: “Then one night, Matisse walked into his paper garden, and the rainbow of shapes cradled the old artist and carried him into the heavens,” where perhaps he now uses his scissors to make the stars in the night sky.
This book can motivate us to take our grandchildren outside at night to also sketch the stars in the night sky and recreate them in a collage or puzzle.
For older children;
Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors (Smart About Art) Paperback – by Jane O’Connor. Age Range: 5 – 9 years. Grade Level: Kindergarten – 5
Here is the Amazon blurb about the book:
Keesia and Henri Matisse have the same birthday-New Year’s Eve! That’s why she picks him for her artist report. She finds out that over his long career Matisse made paintings, sculpture, books, costumes, and her favorite-his cut-outs, or what Matisse called “drawing with scissors.” The report is filled with about 20 of Matisse’s masterpieces as well as artwork that Keesia has created in his “style” (cut-out leaves, drawings through windows, fauvist animals). As she follows Matisse through his life she discovers why he is considered one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.
Then there is a book that includes instructions for an activity to do with the grandchildren on Matisse. (There are others for Van Gogh, Monet, and other artists too).
Art Activity Pack: Matisse (Art Activity Packs) Paperback -by Mila Boutan. Age Range: 5 – 9 years. Grade Level: Kindergarten – 5. Reviews say children as young as three can participate.
Here is the Amazon blurb about the activity book and series:
In this innovative new series, readers will learn about four of the world’s best known artists–Monet, Matisse, Cezanne, and Van Gogh–and they’ll also get activity ideas that will inspire them to create their own masterpieces. Each Art Activity Pack comes with a paperback book about the artist and focuses on one of the concepts behind his work. In addition, the Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh Packs include an art activity book and a poster to color. The Matisse Pack includes stencils and brightly colored paper young artists can cut to create their own collages.
Included in the Art Activity Packs:
(Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh) Full Color Book Art Activity Book(Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh) Large Format Poster (Matisse)
Stencils & Colored Paper
To start from scratch ourselves is easy. For a visit present, we can bring gouache watercolor paint, paint brushes, watercolor paper and white canvas at a small investment. Of course, the children need safety scissors and children’s glue. As Matisse had assistants, we can be our grandchildren’s assistants to help them create their masterpieces.
What a wonderful life lesson accompanies our expansion of our grandchildren’s horizons into the world of artist masterpieces. We can create new and wonderful things, even with physical limitations, and at any age.
Remember that grandma can create as well. An art show of the new works can be presented to the parents of the grandchildren with
Joy,
Mema
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