Positive and Negative space collage with Matisse

DISCUSSION: Complementary Colors:

Let’s revisit color for a moment so that we might learn how to use it to our artist advantage

Emphasis: what does this word mean?

How do we emphasis parts of our art we want the viewer to notice?

Look at Matisse’s first painting: what do you notice first? ALL THE RED

and second? the green window

Red and green are OPPOSITE on the color wheel. 

Placing these two colors next to each other draws your attention.

Name another two colors that would use this idea? and the last?

Positive and negative space?

What is positive space?

If I am a sculpture what is positive space?

What is negative space?

How important and what role does each serve?

could the space not filled (negative) ever speak louder then the positive space?

Look again at his first piece: you noticed the red first...That is Negative space.

What story could we tell about the piece.

Look at the second work: what is positive space?

What do you notice first 

What does this work remind you of

is it the same on both sides?

Artist: Henri Matisse 1869-1954

French Painter, 

Studied law until he was 21

Mother gave him a paint box after surgery and he discovered painting

In 1891 set off for Paris. 

Matisse began his journey of studies which ultimately lead him to his love of line, shape and color. 

Matisse felt that his greatest influence had been the work of the artist Cezanne (1839 – 1906, French). 

In the 1950‘s, Matisse began creating paintings using paint and paper cut outs. 

In his last years, as he aged and fell ill, Matisse continued to paint, this time on the walls of his room, using a piece of charcoal attached to the end of a bamboo pole. 

He painted until his death in 1954. 

Matisse had strong feelings about only one thing, the act of painting. 

The purpose of these pictures, he always asserted, was to give pleasure. 

For additional information please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Matisse 

PROJECT: create complementary, positive and neg space symmetrical  collage

Step1: choose what two colors you are going to use (must be complementary)

Step2: get one half sheet and one whole sheet of construction paper

Step3: Use your half sheet to cut out positive shapes Organic or geometric

Step4: continue until you have 5-7 pieces cut out 

Step5: Glue down your Negative space sheet on one half of your large construction paper

Step6: using your positive cut-out begin to match up on the opposite side 

Step7: continue until all items are glued on your paper

MATERIALS: Construction paper, Scissors, Glue