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.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Art Education

Is My Child Creative?

An important element of children’s art education is creativity. Award-winning author and art expert MaryAnn Kohl offers a special watch list for parents.

Observation, the ability to really see, is a valuable part of the visual arts and the art of parenting. How does your child respond to and interact with creative art materials, toys, games and objects in his/her environment? Keep an eye out for the following signs of a creative child and know that you can always build upon these desirable skills by fostering originality and providing your child with creative open-ended activities, such as art classes!

You know your child is developing important creative abilities if your child is …

  • Filled with a spirit of wonder and magic
  • Open to inner feelings and emotions
  • Curious, exploratory and adventurous
  • Imaginative with the power to form mental images of what is not actually present
  • Intuitive in terms of problem solving without logic
  • Independent in his or her thinking – able to find answers on his/her own and question authority
  • Able to immerse in meaningful activities
  • Motivated to create in new ways instead of accepting things the way they are or have always been
  • Drawn to create new, original patterns, which is characteristic of divergent thinking
  • Playful when it comes to ideas and innovating with concepts

    Creativity is coming center stage and is recognized as an incredibly valuable tool, in addition to a source of personal satisfaction and happiness. To compete in a global economy, children need to be equipped with both the ability to demonstrate creativity, along with a solid educational background. Art classes and activities can help children tap their imaginations and build confidence, too.

    Stay tuned for more posts regarding creativity and process art.

    Thanks to MaryAnn Kohl (http://www.brightring.com/) for sharing her artful insights!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Artists for Kids

Teachers of art education will be interested in John Ichter since his artwork can be a great inspiration for children’s creativity. Ichter’s love of nature is contagious and inspires kids to create their own landscapes.

His colorful and bright paintings, watercolors and pastels are represented in several galleries across the country. Ichter lives in Atlanta with his two dogs. He recently sold the gallery and frame shop that he owned for twelve years to allow him to travel and dedicate more time to selling his paintings. He enjoys people watching while he paints and he loves to travel, especially to Europe.



What Kids Can Learn From Ichter
(Art for Kids)










Ichter’s art is perfect for kids’ creativity. His landscapes and dragonflies show bright and simple lines that are easy for children to follow. He uses pastels on textured surfaces to give a unique look to his artwork. Children can explore colors and textures while creating their unique landscape.







Art education is very important in today’s world. Not only because of the creative experience, but also because some artists’ work can inspire children in many other ways. Ichter’s love for nature can teach kids to appreciate and to protect the environment while developing their art skills.


Learn more about Ichter on the web at:

http://www.ichter.com/