Matisse-Inspired Cut-Outs

Practice cut-out in this art lesson: matisse-inspired cut-outs.

🎨 Studio Brief #3

Henri Matisse called his paper cut-outs 'painting with scissors.

🎯 Your mission

Use one boring material in an unboring way.

⚡ The twist

Only use materials that were about to be trash.

What you'll learn

Henri Matisse called his paper cut-outs 'painting with scissors.' Paint paper in bright colors, then cut organic shapes and arrange them into a vibrant composition.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

cut-outorganic shapescolor composition

You will need

Tissue paperColored paper

Step 1 of 4

Paint several sheets of paper in bold, flat colors: red, blue, yellow, green, orange.

Step 2 of 4

Once dry, cut flowing, organic shapes: leaves, coral, body forms, abstract curves.

Step 3 of 4

Arrange shapes on a contrasting background. Overlap some and leave space around others.

Step 4 of 4

Glue everything down once you are happy with the composition.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 You can fold a piece of paper at most about 7 times — physics gets in the way after that.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Faith Ringgold turned story quilts into world-famous art.

You did it!

Next: Texture Collage: Touch and Feel All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Project

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: The next time you 'just buy it,' notice how much you could've made yourself.

🏆 Try this week: Make a card for someone who isn't expecting one.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “What's something you'd build if you had unlimited cardboard?”

🔔Share card

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Matisse-Inspired Cut-Outs

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

Next Smart Project

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Matisse-Inspired Cut-Outs

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