Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Yayoi Kusama Dots
Let’s express ourselves by creating art in the style of Japanese American painter Yayoi Kusama.
About the Artist
Yayoi Kusama was born in Japan in 1929. She began studying traditional Japanese painting, but moved to New York to pursue her interest in abstract expressionist art. She became part of the Pop Art movement in New York in the 1960’s. She is best known for her art using a repetition of polka dots, her “infinity room” installations, and her infinity net paintings.
Watch this video read-aloud of a book about Kusama here
For adults and older youth, you might follow along with MoMA in this Infinity Net painting tutorial
Materials:
Your favorite art materials: I’m using oil pastel and watercolor, but you could also use tempera or watercolor paint and a q-tip or dabber sponge, you could also draw dots with or markers, crayons or pastels
paper
Watch Ms. Jennifer create her Kusama inspired mushroom painting here:
Instructions:
Draw three mushroom shapes with an oil pastel or crayon.
Fill each mushroom with dots in rows.
Fill the background of each shape.
Fill the paper with pattern and color.
For Doodlebugs Ages 2-5:
Materials:
Paper
Do-A-Dot markers
Instructions:
Allow your doodlebug to fill their papers with colors. It is important for them to make the dots by pressing gently with an up and down motion. If they try to draw by moving the marker on the paper, the marker tip sponge may year or break.
Name each color as they use it. Encourage them to make a row of dots, or to dot the shape for the letters in their name.
What happens where two colored dots overlap? Does it create a new color?
Music by Bensound.com
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