Modern Mondrian

Modern Mondrian lesson plan

Experiment with primary colors and geometric shapes in the style of Piet Mondrian! Create a template to make one huge, ultramodern design!

  • 1.

    Research art and theories of painting by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). Notice his use of primary colors and basic geometric shapes divided by solid black lines. Find out how Mondrian used these basic shapes to represent real objects.

  • 2.

    Cut 1/4-inch (6 mm) strips of oak tag or recycled file folders. Use them to create a grid-like web with various shapes of negative spaces between the strips, much like the black lines in a Mondrian painting.

  • 3.

    Use Crayola School Glue to place your pieces in a web that is slightly larger than Crayola Color Explosion™ paper. Air-dry your web.

  • 4.

    Lay your web template on top of the black side of Color Explosion paper. Tape the edges to your art surface to hold the template in place.

  • 5.

    Trace several of the shapes along the web’s edges. Refer back to a Mondrian painting to help determine how many lines should be left solid and black. When you are satisfied, remove the web.

  • 6.

    Choose several shapes to fill with color. Consider the balance of your artwork---spread out the shapes you color. Use sweeping lines that barely overlap. Enjoy the BURST of color that Mondrian could have only dreamed about!

Benefits

  • Students research paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian.
  • Students explore Mondrian’s representation of basic geometric shapes to objects in the real world.
  • Students analyze the balance of a Mondrian artwork and apply the design principle in their own art.

Adaptations

  • Use the same template to create a diagonal design. Compare and contrast the different effects.
  • Trade templates with classmates to make unique versions of a friend’s map. Make multiple sheets using the same templates. Display with edges touching to create one large work.
  • Relate Mondrian’s design to a street map of your community.
  • Assessment: Students are successful if they create a design with basic geometric shapes that uses solid black horizontal and vertical lines and color in a balanced number of squares and rectangles.