Below you’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw a Matisse inspired art project and a Matisse Coloring Page. It’s easy to imitate his colorful paintings with some fun patterns and lots of bright colors.

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Matisse Coloring Page

Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for both his use of color and his fluid and original compositions. Now teachers looking for a Matisse inspired art project have a new tutorial that shows students how to draw in his famously flat style, that included lots of repeating motifs and patterns.

Matisse is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso, as one of the artists who best helped to define the changing world of the visual arts in the twentieth century, especially in the areas of painting and sculpture. His use of color and pattern and intentionally flattening of surfaces was a brand new idea, and helped to inspire many artists who came after him.

For those who have access to painting supplies, this makes an excellent watercolor resist project. Just make sure to use watercolor paper, have students press very hard with their crayons for patterns, and then paint over all with bright watercolors. Scroll down to see a large example.

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A Matisse Still Life as a Watercolor Resist

Use crayons for patterns and wash with watercolor paint

Matisse Coloring Page

Open Matisse Coloring Page

Materials for Matisse Project

Drawing Paper. This is the good stuff you can buy in bulk for a good price.
Pencils. Don’t waste your money on the cheapest brand. These make nice dark lines.
Black Marker. A permanent marker will give you a nice dark black color.
Crayons. I like this non-toxic brand that is made from beeswax, not petroleum by-products.
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