Matisse Artist Widget



Henri Matisse was a twentieth century French artist. His characteristic style included flat, brilliant colors and fluid lines. Later in his career, Matisse concentrated on a technique called papiers découpés (paper cutouts). Try making your own painting with Matisee-like paper cutouts:

  • Choose cutouts and drag to the canvas
  • See what changes you can make by clicking on the buttons below the canvas.
  • Print your design.
  • Have fun!

Try Action Painting Like Jackson Pollock



Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) developed a unique style of abstract expressionism. He would drip paint on his canvas in order to create his paintings. His paintings used a technique called "action painting." You can create an abstract painting by clicking on the canvas above. Move your mouse to create your own action painting. Click your mouse to change colors.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Art for Kids


Let’s bring back old-fashioned play
A child’s art education and creativity development begins at home with simple yet powerful art materials (no batteries needed). Art is one of the most inventive ways children can play and express themselves with originality and creativity. With the proliferation of expensive, interactive toys that are supposedly better and more stimulating for your child, simple but sensational play activities may be shelved. Over the past few decades, mass marketing has convinced many parents that the more a toy does the better.


Less is more when it comes to creative play. Children would benefit immensely from a move back to natural and open-ended toys and activities. The 50th anniversary of the Crayola 64 Box, which remains one of Crayola’s most popular products, serves as a colorful reminder that toys do NOT need to be interactive. The goal is to get children to interact with toys and creative materials. This is where creativity and problem-solving blossoms. A box of crayons or chalk or water-based paints and some blank paper encourage the kind of interactive, open-ended play that helps develop a child’s imagination and fosters inventive learning. Remember that a child’s art education and creativity development begins at home.

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