Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Musings with Munchkins and Matisse 

"What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things...it is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface." - Brancusi


I was privileged to have taught two sweet little girl "munchkins" after school each week.  One was in second grade and the other in fourth.  Each year matters developmentally and, although they are both interested, interesting, and talented, the outcome was uniquely their own!

First step was the inspiration.  We enjoyed lolly gagging over Matisse's masterpiece, Woman In A Purple Coat.  

Woman In A Purple Coat, Matisse, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

We perused other books about Matisse and analyzed his style.

Open Window, Collioure, Matisse, National Gallery of Art, Washington
The little girls were really struck by Matisse's inside/outside, planes, and happy colors in his painting Open Window, Collioure.

The art room was tweaked here and there until it was converted into our own makeshift Matisse-esque scene.

Here is the second grader's work in progress...

2nd Grader Working Toward Completion
...and the fourth grader at step one.  The photo is not too clear, but the only one at this stage.

4th Grader's First Steps
Each girl plowed on week after week as they became very acquainted with every straight line, curve, organic and geometric shape and form until finally....they finished!!!!

View Through the Art Room's French Doors, 2nd Grader
Did you find Woman in A Purple Coat in each artwork? And the good news is.......

View Through the Art Room's French Doors, 4th Grader
.....they both won medals!  
Congratulations, Girls!  Thank you, Matisse!

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." - Camille Pissarro

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