Rockin' Henri Matisse Art Project for Kiddos
Artsy Activity for Miniature Picassos: Matisse-Inspired Craft for Children
Want to make art a blast? Dive into this Henri Matisse art project and let your young Picassos enjoy shapes, colors, and an all-around creative experience! This hands-on activity is inspired by Matisse's iconic "The Beast of the Sea" collage and encourages kids to cut, color, and paste – just like the master.
🎉 Check out our library of other Famous Artist projects!
Matisse Magic Art Project for the Kids' Zone
This engaging process art project is perfect for homes or classrooms. The goal? Kids explore abstract shapes, composition, and color theory while learning about a famous artist in a super cool way. Each project will be unique – and that's the charm!
🎨 How about more Famous Artist projects? Click here!
Who was Henri Matisse?
Meet Henri Matisse, the French artist behind the vivid colors and abstract shapes we love. Late in his career, Matisse created a series of cut-paper artworks, which he named "cut-outs." One of his most famous works, "The Beast of the Sea," showcases a beautiful collage made entirely from colorful paper shapes representing sea animals' life and death. 🐋🎨
Also, try these fun Matisse Art Projects for Kids: Bird Collage and Matisse Flowers.
What You'll Need:
- Matisse shape templates for printing (available below!)
- Scissors
- Glue stick or glue
- Colored construction paper or cardstock
- Markers or crayons (optional, for coloring the shapes)
- A large background sheet for assembling the collage
🎨 Pro Tip: Create an art cart with a variety of materials—crayons, scissors, glue, paints, and paper—for the kids to get creative anytime!
How to Make Your Own Matisse-Inspired "The Beast of the Sea" Collage:
💡 Tip: To create a more unstructured art project, show the original artwork to kids and have them make their unique interpretation of the masterpiece. The result can be similar or completely different, making it a great way to customize the art project for various age groups.
- Print your templates. Choose from 7 diverse pages of Matisse-inspired shapes.
- Color your shapes if you printed them in black and white, or trace them onto colored paper.
- Cut out the shapes carefully.
- Arrange your shapes on your background paper, considering balance, space, and layering like Matisse!
- Glue them down once you're satisfied with your design.
- Display your masterpiece proudly - you just made a Matisse-inspired artpiece!
Matisse Additional Ideas
- Art History Connection: Read a book like Henri's Scissors by Jeanette Winter.
- Vocabulary Words: Abstract, collage, composition, cut-outs.
- Art Elements Emphasis: Discuss shape, color, and positive/negative space.
- Art Gallery Walk: Have kids display and explain their pieces to one another.
🎨 Learn about the 7 Elements of Art here.
Free Printable Matisse Art Project Pack
Want to create a Beast of the Sea collage? Grab the complete printable Matisse art project template available here – includes 7 pages of shape options and two finished examples for inspiration!
More Fabulous Famous Artist Projects to Explore
- Picasso Faces for Kids
- Pop Art Self-Portraits Inspired by Andy Warhol
- Kandinsky Circle Activity
- Frida Kahlo Art Projects
- Van Gogh Mixed Media Project
Printable Famous Artists Project Pack
Explore even more about famous artists with this growing resource packed with exciting projects! Find tips for success, starting tips, and more! In addition, many options for female and POC artists are included.
Inside the Art Pack:
Each artist includes:
- Artist Project Sheets for three unique project ideas.
- Additional Artist Project Printable Activities to go along with each artist and project.
- Simple Artist Biography Sheets that are kid-friendly. Learn about each artist!
- Animated Artist Videos covering a simple project idea to try for each artist!
- My Favorite Artist Mini Pack for further exploration of a favorite artist.
- Getty Challenge showing how to try this cool art challenge at home or in the classroom!
- Supply List to help you stock your art cart for quick projects!
- Helpful Tips for success in every project!
- Free Bonus Projects Pack, including DIY Art Camp ideas!
- This kid-friendly Henri Matisse art project encourages young artists to dive into an exciting creative experience, making shapes, colors, and composition their playground.
- The Matisse Magic Art Project is a hands-on activity that seamlessly blends learning about art with fun, making it a perfect choice for both homes and classrooms.
- As children delve into this process art project, they will be exploring abstract shapes, composition, and color theory, all while learning about a renowned artist.
- With each project being unique, this activity offers an exciting opportunity for kids to express their individuality and creativity.
- The "Henri Matisse" collage project is inspired by his iconic "The Beast of the Sea" piece and invites kids to cut, color, and paste like the master himself.
- Access our library of various Famous Artist projects, including Picasso Faces, Pop Art Self-Portraits, Kandinsky Circle Activity, Frida Kahlo Art Projects, and Van Gogh Mixed Media Project, to broaden your child's artistic horizons.
- In addition to art, this resource offers engaging project ideas relating to fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, shopping, and career-development.
- By creating an art cart filled with paints, crayons, scissors, and paper, you'll empower children to get creative anytime.
- During the make-your-own "The Beast of the Sea" Collage activity, children can either follow the template or create their unique interpretation of the masterpiece, making it suitable for various age groups.
- To make the most of this project, you can incorporate learning opportunities by reading books about Matisse, focusing on abstract, collage, composition, cut-outs, shape, color, and positive/negative space.
- You can find everything you need to create your child's Matisse-inspired artpiece in our free Printable Matisse Art Project Pack, including 7 pages of shape options and two finished examples for inspiration.
