Collage paper cuts – Year 2

Collage paper cuts – Year 2

Year 2 have been learning about the life and work of French artist Henri Matisse. They shared story books about the artist and watched some short video clips of the artist working in his studio. They focused on his work from the later part of his life when Matisse became very poorly and was unable to continue painting at an easel. He found a new way to create art using ‘paper cuts’ which was essentially drawing with scissors. Year 2 had lots of opportunity to look at examples of his work and they talked about the shapes and colours that he used. 

The children started to develop their own compositions using irregualar, organic shapes using lots of different colours. They created their own compositions in their sketchbooks and practised overlapping and layering their shapes. They also tried placing their shapes separately to see what effect that created. The children learnt how to place their shapes and move them around on their paper before deciding finally where to glue them. 

Next, they looked at positive and negative spaces created by the organic shapes they created. They learnt that if they cut out a shape ( positive space) from a piece of paper it left behind another shape created by the hole that was left behind ( negative space). They chose two contrasting , coloured pieces of paper and experimented with positive and negative space and shapes. 

Finally, the children worked on a large scale, moving away from tables and instead using the hall floor to work on a big scale. Collectively, the class created irregular shapes of different sizes and colours and placed them carefully to create a large paper cut drawing. They worked on a large piece of white paper and brown paper to create two final compositions. 

Amazing work year 2!

What The Student Says

" I have improved my cutting. I can hold a pair of scissors better now."

"It felt good to cut out lots of different shapes. It was hard not to have any straight sides or corners."

" I liked placing my shapes and deciding where I wanted them to go before I glued them on the paper."

"It was lots of fun to work in the hall on the floor using massive pieces of paper. We all had to work together to get the drawing done."

What knowledge and skills have been developed?

  • developed and improved their cutting skills
  • learnt how to hold and use scissors correctly
  • learnt the difference between regular and irregular shapes
  • thought about and considered their own compositions
  • understand how to overlap and layer shapes for effect
  • learnt about contrasting colours
  • know the difference between positive and negative space

What the Teacher says

"The children have really enjoyed learning about the life and work of Henri Matisse and his use of collage paper cuts to create compositions. They have developed their cutting skills and know the difference between regular and irregular shapes. They have placed their natural, organic shapes carefully to create their own drawings. Year 2  have learnt the art of placing something and moving it around before deciding finally where it should go.  They worked brilliantly in their sketchbooks creating their own compositions and worked collaboratively to combine lots of different sized shapes to create two, large drawings.

Amazing work year 2!"

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