SUMMER LEARNING CHALLENGE: ART
WEEK 3: MUSIC VISUALIZATION ABSTRACT ART
Abstract Art uses shapes and colors to express feelings. Because the artist is describing a feeling, the objects in the painting do not look like realistic, everyday objects.
The first abstract art was inspired by music: music is also abstract and represents feelings rather than the outside world.
To earn this week's Art Badge, create a work of abstract art inspired by a piece of music.
WWW.SSF.NET/KIDS About this lesson:
This workbook was inspired by artsintegration.net's "Visualizing Music" lesson, which was created for Northern California schools through grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
This workbook is designed for all ages. If you would like a more advanced project, you may choose to link to the original lesson at https://www.artsintegration.net.
Additionally, a link to the music used in the original lesson has been provided within these worksheet pages. Abstract Art Abstract art was first created by Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian artist who lived from 1866-1944.
Kandinsky described his paintings as "visual music," with colors being like sounds. He often painted to music, using color and line to express how the music made him feel.
This is his very first abstract painting, finished in 1913:
(Untitled, 1913)
[Fun Fact: Kandinsky had a very rare trait called synesthesia, or crossed senses. Kandinsky's sense of hearing was so strongly connected to his sense of sight that he would visualize colors and shapes whenever he heard music. He felt like he was watching as well as listening!] Examples Here are more of Kandinsky's "visual music" paintings.
Composition VIII (1923) 316 (1940)
Composition IX (1936) Untitled Improvisation III (1914)
Look at the colors, lines, and shapes. What do you see? What do they make you think? What do you wonder about these images? See, Think, and Wonder
Which painting do you like the most? Why?
______
______
Which painting do you like the least? Why? ______
______
What do you see in the painting that you like most?
______
______
What did you think while looking at that painting?
______
______W hat do you wonder about that painting?
______
______
Abstract Art Project Get ready to create your own music-inspired abstract art. You will need:
Paper Pencil Paint, crayons, markers, or colored pencils Music
Choose Your Music Choose one song or segment of music to be the subject of your painting. You should be able to listen to this music repeatedly as you are working.
If you can, try to choose a song without vocals (without a singer). You can hear examples of instrumental music by clicking on the QR codes HERE.
[BONUS: if you choose one of the QR code examples in the link above, you can print that web page and attach your music's QR code to the back of your artwork. Later, you can scan that code to listen to the music as you are looking at your finished piece.] Listen and Think Listen to your chosen music. While you are listening, write down six words that the music brings to your mind. Don't think too hard; just write down any connections you make:
Now, listen to the music a second time. What colors come to your mind? Do different colors seem to belong with different parts of the music? Listen and Draw As you listen to the music this time, use this page to draw lines and shapes. Let the music guide you as you decide what to draw and where to place it on the paper. Listen and Sketch Thinking about your words, colors, lines, and shapes, sketch a rough draft of the art you want to create. Keep listening to your music as you draw! Create Your Masterpiece You will need a blank piece of paper for your finished artwork. Choose whether you will be using paints, crayons, markers, or colored pencils; then set up your art space.
With your sketch in mind, listen to the music as you create your abstract work of art.
When your artwork is complete, write the name of the song on the back, along with any thoughts you want to share about your work.
Bonus Project Try creating music inspired by artwork! To do this, link to Chrome Music Lab's "Kandinsky" experiment, which generates music based upon your digital sketches.
Showcase your art! Send us a photo, the name of the song that inspired it, and any thoughts you want to share!
@ssflibrary Email: [email protected]
Did you like this project? Please take the survey on our Summer Learning page to let us know!