Joan Miro: from Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism
Is Miro a Surrealist?While he is often mentioned among the great fathers of Surrealism, Joan Miro never officially joined the movement.
21 Children’s Books about Famous Artists Kids Will Love
If you’re looking for a fun and educational way to introduce your child or students to the world of art, there’s no better place to start than with children’s books about famous artists. From Van Gogh to Kahlo, there are countless picture books that tell the stories of the world’s most renowned artists, their lives,…
Floating through the narrative universe of Marc Chagall’s art
What makes Chagall’s art so special? Ask me, and I’ll tell you that what makes Chagall’s art so special is the rich imaginary world he created through his paintings. Of course, he was an outstanding colorist, but I don’t believe his works would have been as powerful without the incredible set of characters that he…
How to teach Chagall’s art? Thoughts on art and storytelling
Why Chagall? I was thirteen and about to start art school when 150 of Chagall’s painting arrived in Turin for an incredible exhibition of the artists’ oeuvre. To this day, I remember the guided tour I joined with my parents and the incredible journey we did through Chagall’s art and life: 19th century Russia, the…
Kandinsky Circles Lesson for Kids: Practical color theory
Kandinsky’s Circles Lesson for Kids: Color theory made Fun Here comes another variation on the Kandinsky circles paintings theme. Last time we used polymer clay, while on this post I’d like to share a painting activity using rice paper (Xuan paper) and gouache. The underestimated Xuan paper I have a little confession to make: I…
Frottage Abstract Art: out of the box Kandinsky art project
What is frottage? From the French frotter, to rub, frottage is an art technique popularized by surrealist artists at the beginning of the 20th century. At it simplest, frottage is done by lying a thin sheet of paper on a textured surface and gently “rubbing” over it with a soft pencil to highlight the embossed texture. …
How to Create Calligram Poetry: Surrealism Art Interdisciplinary Lesson Plan
What is a Calligram poem?
A calligram is a word or piece of text in which the design and layout of the letters creates a visual image related to the meaning of the words themselves.
This Lesson plan includes the history, contemporary use of calligram, as well as examples from different cultures. The practical inquiry encompasses four activities and art explorations.