Kandinsky Corn 

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Kandinsky Corn using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use warm/cool colors (red orange yellow; green blue purple), shape variation (free form organic geometric) and space (positive negative) inspired by Russian Painter (1866-1944) Wassily Kandinsky
• Use color theory (mixing, harmony, combinations) and design principles (composition, proportion, repetition) based on Abstract Art
• Define Maize (a type of corn that grows large grains set in rows on an ear or cob)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Color Study: Squares With Concentric Circles (1913) Wassily Kandinsky

2. Read The Life And Times of Corn by Charles Micucci

3. Discussion Questions "What is going on in this picture? What makes you say that? What more can you find? What would this painting sound like? What do you think is the subject of this painting? Can you eat this kind of corn or it is just for show? What kinds of food are there on the food pyramid? What group do you think corn is? What type of food is corn bread? Do you eat all the foods on the food pyramid every day? What did you notice about the popped corn compared to the regular corn? Was your prediction about how many people corn could feed correct? How does corn grow?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper

2. Draw three thumbnail sketches of corn using observational drawing skills (contour, outline, continuous) for corn paintings

3. Use pencils to draw details (husks, patterns, string) to positive space (corn) of Kandinsky Corn

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Kandinsky Corn for Assigned Table

2. Farbstudie Quadrate (1913) Wassily Kandinsky 

3. Discussion Questions "If this art could talk, what would it say? If you could ask this artwork a question, what would you ask it? How might your interpretation of this artwork be different from someone in another culture? What does this artwork teach us about the past? Was this intended to be a work of art or not? Why do you think that? How does that impact your understanding of the artwork? If you could change this artwork, how would you change it? Who do you know that would really like this artwork? How can you connect this artwork to your own life? Do you personally connect or relate to this picture? What does this artwork remind you of? What would it feel like to be in this artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (contour, outline, continuous) to add basic shapes (cone triangle rectangle) to corn paintings

2. Use design principles (composition, repetition, gradation) to fill in the positive space (corn) of the corn paintings

3. Use drawing techniques (contour, outline, continuous) to add details (shadows, reflective light) to Kandinsky Corn

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Kandinsky Corn for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (oil pastel, eraser, pencils)

Lesson Activities

1. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the positive space (corn) of the corn paintings

2. Use cool colors (blue green purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the corn paintings

3. Add design details (shadows, reflective light) to the negative space (background) of the Kandinsky Corn 

Artist Examples

Student Examples