Learn About the Artist

Gather facts about Wassily Kandinsky to present to your child. One good place to start is here for easily digestible information about the artist's life. The web series Art with Mati and Dada has wonderful short videos about famous artists. Here is Kandinsky's.

Questions to Discuss While You Work

• Kandinsky was intrigued by the feelings geometric shapes expressed, particularly the circle. Are there any shapes that you feel connect with certain emotions?

• Kandinsky believed there is a strong connection between music and art. He famously said he saw colors when he listened to music and he heard music when he painted colors. Is there a song that makes you think of certain colors? Is there a certain picture or colors that makes you think of a song or music?

Kandinsky Circle Art: Part 1

Kandsinky, believed geometric shapes conveyed certain feelings. He was particularly intrigued by the circle. Take a look at his well-known painting Circles in a Circle.

First, go on a circle hunt around your house collecting anything that can be used to press a circle shape into your dough - jar lids, bottle caps, cups, toilet paper rolls, etc. Next, you will create a canvas for your circle art. Preheat oven to 225F./120C. Combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup water, and 1 cup salt into a dough and knead thoroughly. Roll out into a thin layer with a well-floured rolling pin. Use a large bowl to cut out a big circle from your dough and carefully place the circle on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper. Using your circle shapes, gently press the circles into the dough. Be careful not to press down too hard, you do not want the dough to separate. Poke a small hole at the top of the circle so that you can hang your work. Bake your circle art in the oven for 2-3 hours, turning over halfway through,

until the dough is fully hardened. Check periodically that the dough is not browning.

Kandinsky Circle Art - Part 2

Once the dough has completely cooled, paint it with tempera or acrylic paint. You can play music while you paint as Kandinsky often did. When the painting is dry, tie string or yarn through the small hole for hanging