Henri Matisse - Art Projects for Kids

Interested in learning about French modern artist, Henri Matisse? This article features four projects that provide opportunities for elementary artists to discover Matisse with fun and engaging hands-on art projects.

Begin by reading a little about Henri Matisse, and then dive into a project or two.

Hey Kids, Meet Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was born on December 31, 1869 in Le Cateau-Cambresis in northern France. His parents, Emile Matisse and Heloise Gerars, owned a general store where they sold household goods and seed. Henri was their first son. As a young man, Henri traveled to Paris to study law. In 1889 he returned home to work in a law office as a clerk. It was around this time that he had an attack of appendicitis which required surgery. To make the long recovery more enjoyable, his mother gave him a paint box. It was then, at the age of 21, that Matisse discovered painting and decided to become an artist...

Art Projects for Kids

Painting with Scissors
When Matisse was confined to a wheelchair, and could not paint anymore, he created a technique that he called, "painting with scissors." While his cut-outs look simple to create, students trying this technique will appreciate his amazing talent for cutting and arranging shapes, and choosing colors that work together to create an interesting picture.

Here's what you will need for this art project:

Colored Construction Paper
Glue Stick
Pencil
Scissors

Overlapping Matisse Shapes
This art project is another opportunity to experience and create artworks in the style of Matisse's cut-out art. This project is ideal for younger students, as it only requires them to arrange and trace organic shapes that are prepared by the teacher. The challenge of this project is to design a pleasing composition (arrangement of shapes and colors.)

Here's what you will need for this art project:

Paper
Pre-Cut Organic Shapes
Oil Pastels

Matisse Pattern Landscape
This lesson, by a California based art teacher, was inspired by a donation of wallpaper. Students will create a work rich in patterns, using a variety of wallpapers to create the grass, sky and trees for a highly stylized work of art.

Here's what you will need for this art project:

Assorted Wallpaper
Glue
Pencil

Beasts of the Sea | Learn to Watercolor Project
This watercolor project asks students to create a simple flat wash using three colors. Next, lay organic shapes from his Beasts of the Sea over the washes and trace them with a pencil. Finish by coloring in the shapes with a black marker, and adding a few more shapes drawn freehand.

Here's what you will need for this art project:

Pencil
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Brush
Watercolor Paint
Pre-Cut Shapes
Black Marker
Color Image of Beasts of the Sea