We have a large print of Kandinsky concentric circles in squares in our dining room and Mini has faced it as he eats for the last six plus years of his life. I am a great lover of bright colours in art for children and we have never really discussed the artist.
So when Mini asked if he could have the watercolours out to paint and started painting concentric circles in squares, I decided to sit down and we had a fab discussion.
Wassily Kandinsky (1866 – 1944) was a Russian-French painter. His style of painting originally belonged to expressionism, and is sometimes included in symbolism. Kandinsky was one of the artists who gave shape to the abstract art in the early twentieth century.
Kandinsky was inspired by music. So whilst mini was painting I popped on Vivaldi’s four seasons. We talked about the fact Kandinsky thought that each colour has its own language and expression. Kandinsky tried to convert musical compositions into paintings. He heard colours in music and he saw music in colours. Mini told me that black must be sad music.
We also talked about the fact that paintings do not have to be of things or people and can be looked at in lots of different ways. I loved the fact that it is something that MIni could easily mimic and didn’t feel that there was a right or wrong.
What really surprised MIni was that he thought it was really modern and current and couldn’t believe that it was done cica 1930’s!
What great fun it must have been. I love painting with the children after we’ve been to an art gallery as they are always so inspired by what they have seen. Although last trip BB decided to focus on the pictures where people were beheaded…
Lovely! RoRo’s class were looking at Kadinsky at the start of the year, and she really took to it. She told me all about painting to music and now often asks for some music on while we have the paints out. She’s also been very inspired by Andy Warhol. I love the enthusiasm the school manage to engender in so many things – I’m sure we didn’t get this at school.
Those look like good paints. I really need to get some more like that – our set (which has less colours) is getting very thin!
Wonderful post Jen!! Love how he has been looking at Kandinsky all this time and then one day “just had a go”. Fabulous discussion you had too. Love it 🙂
Kandinsky is one my favourite artists – and one the artist I remember “first liking” as a child. So I think you made a wonderful choice.
So pleased to see you over on Kids Get Arty!!
Thanks for joining in.
Maggy
What great fun and a great discussion. x
So lovely to have found you via Kids Get arty and thanks for commenting on my blog too. This is a wonderful project and I love how you also incoporated music into your painting activity.
This is brilliant – isn’t it great when something just clicks and they really engage with an idea? His paintings are fantastic and he’s obviously having so much fun and learning at the same time. x