HAPPY FRIDAY, FRIENDS!
I am so excited to introduce you to a Dutch abstract artist named Piet Mondrian. Do you remember what abstract art is? Abstract art does not depict images that are recognizable right away, such as people, objects or landscapes. Instead, abstract artists use colors, shapes and textures to represent something or show an emotion.
When he began painting, Mondrian often painted landscapes and in the cubist style. From there, he learned how to be an abstract artist! One of his most recognizable images that he used over and over was an irregular checkerboard drawn with black lines, and with the spaces painted mostly white or in primary colors (blue, red and yellow).
To do this, he used a form of math called geometry. Geometry helps us understand and create shapes!
Mondrian painted about 250 of these geometric abstracts from 1917 to 1944. Mondrian called his style “neoplasticism.”
I am so excited to introduce you to a Dutch abstract artist named Piet Mondrian. Do you remember what abstract art is? Abstract art does not depict images that are recognizable right away, such as people, objects or landscapes. Instead, abstract artists use colors, shapes and textures to represent something or show an emotion.
When he began painting, Mondrian often painted landscapes and in the cubist style. From there, he learned how to be an abstract artist! One of his most recognizable images that he used over and over was an irregular checkerboard drawn with black lines, and with the spaces painted mostly white or in primary colors (blue, red and yellow).
To do this, he used a form of math called geometry. Geometry helps us understand and create shapes!
Mondrian painted about 250 of these geometric abstracts from 1917 to 1944. Mondrian called his style “neoplasticism.”
 Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red 1937–42 |  Composition No. 10. 1939-42. Oil on canvas |
Mondrian did not use a ruler to measure his lines! He thought carefully about where to place the lines, like those that you see in these paintings. He took his time on these seemingly simple compositions. Take a look at how the red, yellow and blue are placed to the side, and the middle of the paintings are white squares.
Mondrian moved to New York in 1940. Right away, he fell in love with the city and with boogie-woogie music! He was inspired by this music, and it reflected in his art work. What is boogie-woogie music? Let's take a listen..
Broadway Boogie Woogie 1942-43
Let's look at one more piece by Mondrian, this one is called Broadway Boogie Woogie.
Why do you think he called it that? What does it remind you of?
Broadway Boogie Woogie has no black lines, unlike his previous paintings, and there is much more of each primary color!
He was inspired by traffic on the streets of New York. Can you see the pattern that looks like a street grid? Why do you think he used so much yellow? This could be because of the number of yellow taxi cabs on the streets of NYC!
Let's look at one more piece by Mondrian, this one is called Broadway Boogie Woogie.
Why do you think he called it that? What does it remind you of?
Broadway Boogie Woogie has no black lines, unlike his previous paintings, and there is much more of each primary color!
He was inspired by traffic on the streets of New York. Can you see the pattern that looks like a street grid? Why do you think he used so much yellow? This could be because of the number of yellow taxi cabs on the streets of NYC!
Art Break!
Materials:
White paper
Black marker
Primary color markers
Ruler
STEP 1
Use a ruler to make vertical lines on your paper with your black marker.
STEP 2
Make some horizontal lines on your paper as well. Some short and some long!
White paper
Black marker
Primary color markers
Ruler
STEP 1
Use a ruler to make vertical lines on your paper with your black marker.
STEP 2
Make some horizontal lines on your paper as well. Some short and some long!
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STEP 3
Continue making lines and sectioning off your paper in an uneven grid.
STEP 4
Simply use a red, blue, and yellow marker to fill in the different squares! Make sure to leave the center mostly blank with white squares, and space your colors out. Less is more in this abstract piece!
Continue making lines and sectioning off your paper in an uneven grid.
STEP 4
Simply use a red, blue, and yellow marker to fill in the different squares! Make sure to leave the center mostly blank with white squares, and space your colors out. Less is more in this abstract piece!
