Studying an Artist: Kandinsky Circles
To develop artistic appreciation and creative response by studying the work of Wassily Kandinsky.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Expressive Arts & Design
- Learning area: Expressive Arts and Design
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Discusses a famous artwork
- Creates inspired-by artwork
- Explains colour choices
- Understands artists make choices
Materials
- Print of Kandinsky's Squares with Concentric Circles
- Circular templates in varied sizes
- Ready-mix paint
- Black paper
Instructions
Show Kandinsky's 'Squares with Concentric Circles': 'This is art by a very famous artist named Wassily Kandinsky. He lived in Russia a long time ago. He loved colour more than anything!'
Look closely together: 'What shapes can you see? Circles inside circles — concentric circles! What colours? Are the colours inside the squares organised or random? What do you think Kandinsky was trying to show?'
Discuss the mood of the artwork: 'How does this picture make you feel? Why? What if he'd used all grey instead of bright colours? Would the feeling change?'
Children create their own Kandinsky-inspired circles: trace concentric circles using circular templates (bottle tops, cups, plates in varying sizes). Paint each ring in a different colour. 'What colours feel happy together? Bold together? Calm together?'
Compare finished pieces: 'Your circles look different from Kandinsky's but they're in the same spirit — bold colours in circles. How did you choose your colours?' Artistic decision-making is the focus.
Display under the banner: 'Inspired by Wassily Kandinsky' — framing children's work within an artistic tradition while celebrating their individuality.