Kandinsky on Computers

Objectives:
In this lesson students will:
• Learn about lines, shapes, colors, movement and rhythm, and Kandinsky
• Learn about the expressive qualities of line, shape and color.
• Create a composition incorporating line, shape and color.
• Explore the expressive qualities of line, shape and color through the study of Wassily Kandinsky.
• Become more familiar with different kinds of colors, shapes and lines.
• Understand the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.

Procedure:
Part I
Vocabulary- define these words on a sheet of binder paper using your text Exploring Visual Design: The Elements and Principles. Turn in with your name on it (15 pts)


Abstract Art
Nonrepresentational
Line
Vertical
Horizontal
Diagonal
Curvilinear
GestureLine
Shape
Geometric
Organic
Dynamic Shape
Static Shape
Warm Colors
Cool Colors
Part II - Research
The tone of a painting is often greatly affected by the artist's use of color, line and shape in the composition of a work. This activity will investigate these effects in the composition of two different paintings.

1. Go to www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/kandinsky/ – WebMuseum and go to the painting Composition IV, enlarge it. Open a new Word document. Copy a thumbnail size (approx. 2” x 2”) image of the painting. In a paragraph, address all the following about this painting in a word document.
• What year was it painted?
• List all the colors are used in the painting,
• Describe the shapes Kandinsky used in this painting.
• Did Kandinsky use more organic or more geometric shapes in the painting?
• List the types of lines Kandinsky used.
• What do you feel the overall mood or feeling of the painting is?
• Describe the elements in the painting that suggest the mood.

2. Go to the painting Composition VIII, enlarge it. Open a new Word document. Copy a thumbnail size (approx. 2” x 2”) image of the painting. In a paragraph, address all the following about this painting in a word document.
• What year was it painted?
• List all the colors are used in the painting,
• Describe the shapes Kandinsky used in this painting.
• Did Kandinsky use more organic or more geometric shapes in the painting?
• List the types of lines Kandinsky used.
• What do you feel the overall mood or feeling of the painting is?
• Describe the elements in the painting that suggest the mood.

3. In a third paragraph answer the following:
• How are the two paintings similar?
• How are the two paintings different?

4. Save your document as Kandinsky.doc, print. Turn in with your name, block and date typed in the upper right hand corner (10 pts)

Part III - Inspiration
While listening to a selection of music, attempt to experience what Kandinsky did while listening to Wagner’s music – to see colors, shapes and lines in your mind.
1. While listing to excerpts from Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring, list all the colors and shapes that come to mind.
2. While listening to Appalachian Spring a second time, sketch the kinds of lines and shapes the music evokes in your mind.
3. In Illustrator open a new file, 11” x 17” landscape or portrait orientation. Name the file Kandinsky.ai , set color mode to RGB.
4. Use the rectangle, ellipse, polygon, star, line, brush, pencil, and/or pen tools to recreate images from your sketch and list from steps 1 & 2.
5. When your composition best represents what you remember ‘seeing’ while you were listening to the music incorporate one of the following titles into the poster:
a. Wassily Kandinsky, (1866 – 1944). Russian Abstract Artist
OR
b. Aaron Copeland, (1900 – 1990), American Composer, Appalachian Spring
Use fonts and colors that represent the mood and feeling of the music. Choose a font size that is proportionate to the size of the poster – no smaller than 18 pt. and no larger than 36 pt.
6. Save file and give flash drive to instructor to print on large format printer.

Part IV – Reflection
1. Type a paragraph describing your work and reaction to the finished piece, include the following:
• What did you like and/or dislike about listening to Copeland’s Appalachian Spring?
• What mood or moods did you feel while listening to the piece?
• How were you able to express this feeling in your work?
• What do you like most about your finished work?
• What would you change if you were to redo the assignment?
• What did you learn about the connection between visual art and music?
2. Save document as Kandinsky Reflection.doc, print out and turn in with poster from Part III (25 points)