Piet Mondrian was born in Netherlands in 1872. Mondrian’s father was an architect and he gave his son lots of drawing tools. Mondrian loved to create designs with rectangles. He painted many of them using only primary colors outlined in black. He rarely used a ruler. His eyes guided his paintbrush to complete his geometric abstractions.

Goal (Terminal Objective):

Students will create visual artworks that represent the style of Piet Mondrian. The completed artworks will show students’ understanding of rectangular geometric shapes and primary colors.

Objective:

Students will design and paint artworks that show their understanding of the principles and elements of design. Students will learn to use a ruler to draw vertical and horizontal lines that make rectangles. Students will understand primary colors. Students will be able to recognize paintings by Mondrian.

National Standards:

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and culture

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines – mathematics cross curriculum connection

Purpose:

Students will learn about the art style of Piet Mondrian. They will understand the idea of abstract art. Students will be able to connect art and math through the art of Mondrian

New Vocabulary:

Mondrian, Netherlands, abstract, geometric, rectangle, vertical, horizontal, primary colors

Materials:

#22-1403Washable GlueSticks

#56-6012 Natural Hair Rainbow Brush Assortment

#22-0561 Tuck Box Large Crayons

#17-34xx Washable Art-Time Tempera

#23-40xx 50 ct. Construction Paper Pack

¼” pre-cut black construction paper strips

Time:

2-3 lessons (30-40 minutes each)

Introduction and Motivation (Set):

1. Teacher introduces students to artist, Piet Mondrian. Students view several of his paintings and discuss the artist’s style. What colors did the artist use? What shapes did he use? Did he use a ruler? Did he use a computer? Where is Netherlands?
2. Teacher shows Netherlands on a world map. Students are asked to comment on Mondrian’s style of painting. Do you think the artist could also draw recognizable images? Why do you think he liked to paint these geometric designs in primary colors? Do you think these shapes are meant to represent real images?

Instruction:

Lesson 1:

Teacher presents paintings by the artist. Introduction includes group discussion about Mondrian and his life. Students then look at the artist’s style of composing his paintings. What art materials did he use? What colors did he use? Did he like to draw many sizes of rectangles? Can you find any squares? Is a square also a rectangle? Do you think the artist enjoyed mathematics?

Teacher introduces the Elements of Design, focusing on line and composition. Students look at teacher exemplars. After teacher demonstrates, students use black crayons to draw vertical and horizontal lines that make a “T” (not just a grid) and thus creating rectangles. Teacher encourages students to draw many sizes of rectangles.

In the example, the blue­green design was used for the warp and the yellow­green design was used for the weft.

Lesson 2:

Teacher demonstrates painting with tempera paint and primary colors.
Students select one primary color and paint some of the rectangles.
When the paint dries, some of the rectangles are painted with another primary color. When dry, some of the remaining rectangles are painted with the last primary color. Students may leave some of the rectangles unpainted.

Lesson 3:

Teacher demonstrates gluing pre-cut black paper strips around the painted rectangles. Students add the same to their paintings. Students trim the black strips at the edge of the paintings and students show their Mondrian artworks to the class.

Activities:

(1) Guided Practice:

1. Students learn about Piet Mondrian and discuss his style of art. Students watch teacher’s step-by-step demonstrations and discuss teacher exemplars.Students create geometric abstract paintings in the style of Mondrian using Sargent Art tempera paint, paint brushes, crayons, and glue sticks. (Clean up with soap and water. Storage on drying racks.)

(2) Independent Practice and Check for Understanding:

1. Teacher circulates through the room during student work time, answering questions and offering support as needed.
2. Teacher notes students’ understanding of directions and reviews them with the class if necessary.

(3) Closure:

1. Students show their paintings to the class and tell what they learned about Mondrian, geometric shapes, and primary colors.
2. Students discuss the importance of respect for individuality.

Evaluation:

Level One — The artwork conveys the style of Mondrian. Student drew a wide variety of rectangles. Student used all of the primary colors. Craftsmanship is excellent. Student handles materials with confidence.

Level Two — The artwork conveys the style of Mondrian. Student drew a variety of rectangles. Student used all of the primary colors. Craftsmanship is good. Student handles materials with some confidence.

Level Three — The student has made an effort to convey the style of Mondrian. Student did not draw a variety of rectangles. Student used some of the primary colors.
Craftsmanship is fair. Student handles materials with varied confidence.

Level Four — The artwork does not convey the style of Mondrian. Student did not attempt to draw rectangles. Student did not use primary colors. Craftsmanship is poor. Student needs much support in handling materials.

Extension:

Students can learn more about Mondrian and his art through the Mondrian Machine website, http://www.ptank.com/mondrian/. This interactive website introduces students to color and shape and shows them how to design computerized Mondrian pictures.

Resources:

http://www.es-cat.org/~rclarkinia/pdfs/design_principles.pdf (principles of design)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_color (primary colors)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Mondrian
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/mondrian/
http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Piet_Mondrian/biography.html
http://www.suphawut.com/art/western/piet_mondrian.htm
http://webexhibits.org/colorart/mondrian2.html