Piet Mondrian | Art Projects for Kids

Interested in learning about Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian? This article features three projects that provide opportunities for elementary artists to discover Mondrian with fun and engaging hands-on art projects.

Begin by reading a little about Piet Mondrian, and then dive into a project or two.

Hey Kids, Meet Piet Mondrian - Artist Biography
Piet Mondrian was born in Amersfoort in the Netherlands, in 1892. He was the second of his parent's children. At a very young age his father Pieter and his Uncle Fritz, both artists themselves, introduced Piet to the world of art. In 1892, Mondrian entered the Academy for Fine Art in Amsterdam as a qualified teacher. While teaching at the academy he also practiced his painting. Most of paintings from this period were of landscapes. These pastoral images of Holland included fields, cows and windmills. These paintings were representational, and show the influence that the pointillist (painting with dots) and fauvist (vivid colors) movements had on him...

Create Your Own Edible Painting
Decorate sugar cookies in the style of Mondrian. It's an easy-to-do project, and the thrill of eating your creation after you're finished makes this particular project even more fun.

Materials
Sugar Cookie Dough
Rolling Pin
Parchment Paper
Cookie Cutter
Light Corn Syrup
Food Coloring
Paintbrushes
Small Cups

Piet Mondrian | Rectangles, Colors and Black Lines
Students will create a work in the style of Mondrian, using blue, red, yellow and black construction paper. With pre-cut bands or black construction paper, students will consider several different arrangements before deciding on the best composition. Blocks of colored construction paper will then be added, and the whole work is glued in place.

Materials
Blue, Red, Yellow, White and Black Construction Paper
Glue Stick
Scissors

Mondrian Watercolor Painting
Many methods for reproducing Mondrain's geometric art have been successfully used in the elementary art classroom. This lesson is yet one more wonderful way to give students a hands-on experience, as they strive to make a connection with the art and great artists of past generations.

Students will begin by sketching light horizontal and vertical lines with a ruler. Once they have a design that they are happy with, they will darken the lines with a black crayon. With the layout in place, students can begin painting the squares with red, blue and yellow watercolor paint. They should pay careful attention to the balance of color, and how the emphasis of one color over another can dramatically change the tone of the painting.

Materials
Watercolor Paper
Pencils
Black Crayon
Watercolor Paints
Watercolor Paint Brush