Expressive Arts and Design: Kandinsky circles

To support our learning and development in our Expressive Arts and Design area of learning, Nursery have been looking at the work of Wassily Kandinsky. 

We looked at his work of concentric circles: 

Nursery loved all the the different colours that Kandinsky used, and how all the circles form a pattern around one spot right in the middle. We learnt about how Kandinsky could ‘hear colours’ and ‘see sounds’ (synaesthesia). Kandinsky used this special gift to create work based on how sounds and colours interact. Nursery were keen to try and make their own circles!

First, Nursery used poster paint to attempt their concentric circles on an A4 piece of paper. This was a great activity! It enabled Nursery to practice their moving and handling skills, focusing on fine motor. We practiced first how to hold a paintbrush, and how to dip the paintbrush into one colour, and change paintbrush each time. Nursery tried so hard to follow the patterns of Kandinsky, starting with the spot in the middle and going round and round to fill their page. 

Nursery did this so well, and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. We put the paintings on the walls of Nursery to display their lovely, bright and colour artwork. Nursery asked to do this activity again, so we tried to complete more concentric circles on smaller A5 paper, to encourage more control of their paintbrushes, and cleaner circles. We also included the use of oil pastels, to encourage and support fine motor skill of holding the small pastels and pencils. Nursery had more control with this media, and could show more clean and colourful circles than with the paints. 

This was such a fun and interesting activity. Nursery are so proud of their work, and should be very pleased with their amazing art!!