Kids Art: Mondrian-inspired Chalk Pastels

A while ago, a study in Masking led us to use masking tape and paints to create very simple paintings à la Mondrian.

Thanks to the suggestion by one of Ana's school teachers (an artist) to get Oggie started on it, I was happy to introduce this activity to him and notice the concentration and joy with which he created his "pieces".

I didn't restrict the palette to primary colors, nor insist on simple horizontal/vertical lines.



Items Used: Masking tape, card stock paper, chalk pastels

1. On a piece of card stock paper, apply the (relatively inexpensive) masking tape in horizontal and vertical lines allowing them to intersect to form blocks
2. Color with chalk pastel - a different color in each block created by these intersecting lines - and smooth/blend the chalk pastels with a finger
3. Carefully remove the masking tape et voilà! A unique piece of art

Variations:

• Ana liked tempera paints in primary colors, Oggie preferred chalk pastels
• White and black paper for stark effects
• Also, using ruler, create thick dark intersecting lines with black marker and color in the blocks in between using markers
• For Oggie, I taped the paper to the table-top using one or two pieces of masking tape first so the paper won't move when he is blending the chalk pastels; then gave him pre-cut pieces of masking tape to place as he wanted

Other similar art activities:

1. Chalk pastels: Glue and Chalk Pastel Art
2. Masking: Rubber Cement and Water Colors