Matisse Cut and Paste
Grade 5
Lesson submitted by Barbara Levy
Redwood School
West Orange, NJ 07830


Topic: "Cut and paste" paper composition inspired by Henri Matisse

Objectives of Lesson:

  1. TLWD knowledge of the "cut and paste" paper compositions of Henri Matisse through his book "Jazz."
  2. TLWD synthesis of design skills through the planning and executing of an asymetrical composition that is aesthetically pleasing.
  3. TLWD an understanding of composition by creating their own colored paper cut-outs.


Tools, Equipment and Materials:
  1. 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" construction paper (fadeless) in yellow, violet, green, red, orange and blue.
  2. 12" x 12" black paper
  3. 17" x 17" white paper
  4. scraps of the same colors
  5. 6" x 6" squares of colors plus white and black
  6. scissors
  7. glue sticks
  8. "Jazz" by Henri Matisse
  9. Jazz tape to play during lesson
  10. 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" newsprint for rough draft


Introduction:
  1. Henri Matisse is often regarded as one of the most important French painters of the 20th century.
  2. His style changed many times over the years.
  3. Matisse continued creating into his 80's although he was bedridden.
  4. One creative actoivity that he could manage whiel in bed was ro cut paper into compositions ("drawing with scissors").
  5. He selected 20 of these cut and paste compositions and made a book called "Jazz" complete with text (written in French).
    6. He said that the decision to use text had visual importance and achieved a compositional balnace. "The handwriting creates a rhythmic procession through the book."
  6. He uses overstated colors with intense blacks.
  7. Most of the cut-out images for "Jazz" relate to the circus, folk tales, voyages and the theater, but there are images that relate to the sky, the trees, the flowers, and of course abstract images as well.


Presentation Outline:
  1. Today were going to begin our cut and paste paper composition inspired by the work of Henri Matisse and his book called "Jazz."
  2. Each of you will select one pair of complementary colors plus black and white.
  3. One complementary color will be your background and the other plus black will be used for the cut outs.
  4. Shapes should consist of free-form, geometric, and Matisse inspired stars, moons, plants, sun, etc.
  5. Composition should be aesthetically pleasing while being asymetrical; shapes can overlap.
  6. Demonstrate drawing rough sketch.
  7. Select colors.
  8. Draw shapes.
  9. Cut out shapes.
  10. Place and move shapes around paper to create a composition until satisfied with balance.
  11. Second lesson: After composition is completed, students will select 2 shapes to reproduce in minitaure for border.


Assessment/Evaluation:

  1. Did students create an aesthetically pleasing composition?
  2. Did students make an asymetrically balanced work of art?
  3. Could students briefly describe Matisse's work in "Jazz?"


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