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Mini Mondrian

How to Make A Mini Mondrian

Study the work of Piet Mondrian and his famous Broadway Boogie Woogie. Using elements of music and the architecture of the city, kids will create their own geometric paintings.

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Click here to learn about Piet Mondrian and his use of music and architecture!

Supplies Needed:

Mini Mondrian Free Craft Materials paint, brushes, ruler, scissors, glue, eraser, colored pencils, white, blue, red, and yellow paper

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  • Grid Paper

  • Colored Paper

  • Black Marker or Sharpie

Alternate Supplies:

Step-by-Step Instructions

We have a few different methods for making a "Mini Mondrian". Choose which ever works for you!

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                    Mini Mondrian: Method 1

                    Mini Mondrian: Method 2

                    Mini Mondrian: Method 3

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Method 1

Mini Mondrian: Method 1

Step 1:

Paint 3 sheets of paper, one red, one blue, one yellow and let dry completely.  Instead of paint, you can also use colored construction paper! 
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft  yellow, red, and blue paper

Step 2:

Using a ruler, cut two 3x3 inch squares from each color. Then cut the remaining paper lengthwise into 1/2 inch strips.
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft squares and strips of red, yellow, and blue paper
Mini Mondrian Free Craft red, yellow, and blue paper squares placed over a city map

Step 3:

Using your Digital Grid of Providence Download, or a map of any city, identify the large gridded sections and lay out the 3x3 inch colored squares on top of  these areas. Below you can see an example using the city sections created by highway lines. 
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft red, yellow, and blue squares of paper
Mini Mondrian Free Craft red, yellow, and blue squares and strips of paper placed over a map

Step 4:

Next lay out and glue the 1/2 inch colored strips on top of the major highways and roads.
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft strips and squares of red, yellow, and blue paper

Step 5:

Cut your remaining 1/2 inch colored strips into small squares. Then glue them  throughout your piece to represent houses, buildings or cars. 
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft red, yellow, and blue paper squares and strips glued onto  white paper
Method 2

Mini Mondrian: Method 2

Step 1:

Stencil or draw the outline or your favorite animal or shape so it fills up a whole piece of paper. Then trace the pencil outline with black marker and color in your background.

Step 2:

Using a ruler, draw vertical and horizontal lines within the shape.
 

Step 3:

Color in the spaces created by the lines using primary colors to match Mondrian's style. Make sure to leave some spaces white!
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft
Mini Mondrian Free Craft
Method 3

Mini Mondrian: Method 3

Step 1:

Want to get some more practice with math? Use grid paper to create square and rectangle figures. 

Step 2:

Let the different colors represent buildings, roads and cars.
 

Step 3:

Then use the Common Core Perimeter Practice Sheet to find perimeter and area of each location you created!
 

Mini Mondrian Free Craft

Piet Mondrian

Mondrian

“Every true artist has been inspired more by the beauty of lines and color and the relationships between them than by the concrete subject of the picture.”

History

Piet Mondrian is a Dutch painter from the Netherlands. He is well known for his abstract use of primary colors plus black, white, gray, and simple horizontal and vertical lines. However, the artist did not reach his signature style of Neoplasticism instantly as an artist. As a young artist living in the Netherlands and Paris, Mondrain experimented with his work in the style of Impressionism and Cubism. He developed his style through experiences with other famous painters and their signature styles of art. Although he began his work using mostly Impressionism on his pieces, over time, his pieces became more of a simplistic emphasis on movement. After establishing his signature artist profile, he moved to New York. Here, he was inspired to paint his final finished piece called Broadway Boogie Woogie (1942-1943). In this piece, Mondrian transitions his famous black lines into bold colors, still using his primary color niche, to create an upbeat and busy piece that reflects the music of the era and gives resemblance to maps.

Piet Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie (1942-1943)

Learn a little bit more about Mondrian’s abstract piece Broadway Boogie Woogie and other work here or watch a short video below.
 

See Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie bring to life the hustle and bustle of busy New York City streets. 

Listen to pianist and composer, Jason Moran, describe the musical influence of Piet Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie Woogie.

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